Romance Scam Prevention Act
Sponsored By: Representative Valadao
Passed House
Summary
Requires dating apps to notify users when they've messaged a banned scammer. The notice must name the banned profile, show the most recent contact time, warn against sending money or financial details, offer safety tips, and give customer service contact information.
Show full summary
- Dating app users: You get a clear fraud alert if you exchanged messages with someone the service has banned. The alert includes the banned member's username, the last message time, a fraud warning, safety best practices, and a reminder not to send cash or personal financial data.
- Online dating service providers: Providers must deliver the notice clearly by email, text, or another consented channel, generally within 24 hours and no later than 3 days in limited cases. Providers have a legal safe harbor for claims tied to complying with these notification rules, and the requirement takes effect 1 year after enactment.
- Federal and state enforcement: The Federal Trade Commission can treat violations as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act and enforce them. States may bring civil suits on behalf of residents but must notify the FTC and face limits while a federal action is pending.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Dating apps would warn you about banned users
Online dating services would have to alert you if you got a message from a banned member. The notice would show that profile’s username and the last time you messaged them. It would warn that the person may be using a false identity, and tell you not to send money or financial info. It would include tips to avoid scams (a link is allowed) and customer service contact details. Notices must be clear and sent by email, text, or another method you agreed to. They would usually go out within 24 hours after the fraud ban starts, but providers could take up to 3 days if needed. If law enforcement asks for a delay, the app would wait, then send the notice within 3 days after the delay ends.
FTC and states enforce one notice rule
Violations would count as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act, and the FTC could use its normal powers to enforce. State attorneys general could sue for their residents after notifying the FTC, and the FTC could join those cases. A state case could not proceed against the same defendant while an FTC civil case on the same violations is pending. Dating apps would be shielded from member lawsuits for actions taken to follow the notice rules. States could not set their own rules that require or forbid these alerts, or change how alerts are sent. State contract and tort laws would still apply.
Who is covered and when it starts
The bill would define key terms like banned member, fraud ban, member, online dating service, provider, the FTC, and State (including DC, territories, and Tribes). These definitions would decide who must send notices and when notices are required. All rules in this section would start one year after the bill is signed into law.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Valadao
CA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Goldman (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
OH • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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