Sign Petition to Support the Federal Anti-Scam Bureau Act
Draft Legislation: Federal Anti-Scam Bureau Act
Section 1: Short Title
This Act may be cited as the “Federal Anti-Scam Bureau Act of 2026.”
Section 2: Purpose
To establish a centralized federal agency responsible for identifying, investigating, preventing, and prosecuting fraudulent scams— particularly those targeting the elderly, minors, veterans, and other vulnerable populations, including faith-based communities—whether by phone, email, online platforms, or emerging technologies such as AI-generated deception.
Section 3: Establishment of the Bureau
(a) There is established within the Department of Justice an office to be known as the Federal Anti-Scam Bureau (FASB).
(b) The Bureau shall serve as the primary coordinating authority for scam-related intelligence and enforcement actions that span multiple jurisdictions or crime categories.
(c) The Bureau shall operate a national reporting hotline and web portal for scam and fraud victims, and shall produce regular alerts and bulletins on new scam trends.
Section 4: Responsibilities of the Bureau
- The Bureau shall have lead investigative authority over coordinated scam operations involving digital deception, financial extraction, and cross-jurisdictional elements.
- Investigateinterstate, international, and online scams, including those conducted via the Internet, social media, mobile apps, cryptocurrencies, and the Dark Web;
- Employ teams ofdigital forensic experts, cybersecurity analysts, white-hat hackers, and artificial intelligence specialists to proactively identify, trace, and dismantle scam operations;
- Develop and maintainAI-powered monitoring and threat-detection tools to flag deceptive campaigns, impersonation schemes, deepfake-based fraud, and scam-related financial transactions in real time;
- Operate acovert investigative unit focused on Dark Web surveillance, crypto laundering networks, and foreign scam syndicates without duplicating existing agency authorities;
- Partner withdomestic and international law enforcement, as well as private sector cybersecurity firms, to track and apprehend high-level fraudsters;
- Maintain aNational Scam Watchlist to track high-risk phone numbers, domains, digital wallets, and known scammer aliases;
- Create community education programs in schools, elder care facilities, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits to help vulnerable populations recognize and avoid scams;
- Publishmonthly public scam alerts, including a “Top 10 Emerging Scams” list and downloadable resources.
Section 5: Criminal Penalties and Enforcement
(a) The Bureau shall recommend to the Attorney General enhanced penalties for scam-related crimes that:
- Target children, seniors, or mentally impaired individuals;
- Result in suicide, homelessness, or bankruptcy;
- Originate from foreign hostile actors or cartels.
(b) Prosecutors may seek, including but not limited to:
- Up to 30 years imprisonment for large-scale or international scam operations involving aggregate losses exceeding $10 million or resulting in serious bodily harm or death.
- Asset seizure and restitution orders,
- Lifetime bans from digital financial services for convicted scammers.
Section 6: Reporting and Transparency
(a) The FASB shall publish an annual report to Congress detailing:
- Emerging scam trends,
- Arrests and prosecutions,
- Recommendations for legislation or regulatory reform.
- Including coordination metrics with federal and state agencies to assess response efficiency.
(b) A public-facing dashboard shall include real-time scam data, allowing citizens to see reported threats by region.
Section 7: Funding
There is authorized to be appropriated $250 million annually to the Department of Justice to support the Bureau’s activities, staffing, public education campaigns, and technology development.
Given the multi-billion-dollar annual losses attributed to scam and fraud activity, this funding level reflects a preventative return-on-investment model.
Section 8: Whistleblower Protection
The Bureau shall establish protections and incentives for industry whistleblowers who expose scam-enabling platforms, rogue employees, or software vulnerabilities used in scam operations.