National Strategy for Combating Scams Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
- Committees
- Judiciary Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Dec 4, 2025
Bottom line
The bill establishes a comprehensive, interagency, and stakeholder-inclusive national strategy to combat scams, aiming to improve coordination, data collection, and prevention efforts across federal, state, local, and private sectors.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to establish a working group, including 17+ federal agencies and various community stakeholders, to develop a National Strategy for Combating Scams. The strategy must define 'scam,' evaluate risks and prevention, define agency roles, improve data collection and coordination, and recommend legislative changes. It also requires the FBI, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to adopt the common scam definition established by the strategy.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that the current fragmented federal response to scams is inefficient and ineffective, leading to significant financial losses and harm to vulnerable populations. A coordinated national strategy, as proposed, would streamline efforts, improve data sharing, enhance prevention, and provide better support for victims, especially given the rise of AI-powered scams.
Opponents contend
Potential opponents might argue that establishing another working group and strategy could lead to bureaucratic bloat without tangible improvements, or that existing agencies already have sufficient mandates and coordination mechanisms. Concerns could also be raised about the scope of data collection and potential privacy implications, or the feasibility of achieving a truly harmonized definition and data system across so many diverse agencies.
The bill is concise and clearly structured, making it accessible for a quick review by an informed reader.
Section 3(a)
FBI-Led Working Group for National Strategy
This provision directs the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to establish a working group within 90 days of the bill's enactment. This group will be responsible for developing a comprehensive National Strategy for Combating Scams, coordinating with at least 17 specified federal agencies and any other relevant departments.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue that an FBI-led working group is essential to bring together disparate federal efforts, ensuring a unified and strategic approach to a growing problem that currently lacks centralized coordination.
Critics contend
Some might argue that adding another layer of bureaucracy could slow down existing efforts or that the FBI, while a key player, may not be the optimal lead for a strategy that encompasses broad consumer protection and financial regulation.
Tradeoffs
Balances the need for centralized coordination against potential bureaucratic overhead and the diverse mandates of participating agencies.
Section 3(b)
Core Elements of the National Strategy
This section outlines the mandatory components of the National Strategy for Combating Scams. It requires the strategy to incorporate feedback from diverse community stakeholders, establish a common definition of 'scam,' evaluate risks and prevention methods, define agency roles, analyze government-wide scam estimates, formulate plans for coordinated complaint reporting, data collection, private sector collaboration, rapid response, intergovernmental coordination, victim recovery support, and international cooperation. It also requires an analysis of needed legislative changes and resources.
Section 3(c) and 3(d)
Strategy Submission, Public Availability, and Periodic Updates
The working group is required to submit the National Strategy to specific Congressional committees and make it publicly available on a website within two years of the working group's establishment. Furthermore, the strategy must be updated at least every five years, incorporating new feedback and revising the scam definition as needed, with each update also being submitted to Congress and published.
Section 4
Mandated Adoption of Common Scam Definition
This section mandates that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) must adopt the common definition of 'scam' recommended in the National Strategy within one year of its publication. Any subsequent updates to this definition in future strategy revisions must also be adopted by these agencies within one year.