The SCAM Act directs the Department of Defense to establish a joint task force, led by U.S. Cyber Command, to investigate and combat transnational cybercrimes and scam operations targeting Americans. The task force will coordinate among multiple federal agencies including the State Department, Treasury, FBI, FTC, and others to address digital fraud schemes—particularly those connected to Chinese organized crime groups operating in Southeast Asia, which are estimated to steal nearly $44 billion annually through scams targeting elderly and vulnerable Americans. Within one year, the task force must report to Congress on emerging trends in these operations, their ties to hostile governments, and recommend policy options including sanctions, asset forfeiture, and protective measures for affected Americans and U.S. military installations in the Indo-Pacific region. The legislation includes no new funding authorization but establishes this task force authority for five years following submission of the initial report, emphasizing a coordinated government-wide response to what lawmakers characterize as a national security threat involving organized crime, espionage, human trafficking, and foreign interference.
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