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119-s-841119th CongressWALLET

Romance Scam Prevention Act

Sponsored By: Senator Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would create a national framework requiring online dating services to send timely fraud warnings — called "fraud ban notifications" — to users who exchanged messages with a banned account. Notifications must name the banned profile, note the most recent message time, warn about false identities and sending money, give fraud-avoidance tips and provider contact details, and generally go out within 24 hours unless delayed up to three days for provider judgment or an active law enforcement request.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

FTC can enforce dating-app rules

This bill would let the Federal Trade Commission treat violations of the notice rules as unfair or deceptive acts and enforce them under the FTC Act. The FTC would have its usual powers, jurisdiction, remedies, penalties, and immunities to pursue providers that break the rules. This enforcement authority would take effect one year after enactment.

State attorneys general can sue

This bill would let State attorneys general bring federal civil actions on behalf of residents for violations of the notice rules. States would generally need to notify the FTC and include a copy of the complaint before suing, and the FTC could intervene, be heard, and appeal. If the FTC already sued the same defendants, a State AG generally could not sue those named defendants while the FTC case is pending. These rules would take effect one year after enactment.

National rule blocks state notice laws

This bill would bar States and localities from requiring, forbidding, or otherwise controlling how dating apps notify members about messages involving accounts subject to a fraud ban. That creates a single national standard for notices but could remove stronger state protections or different approaches. This preemption would take effect one year after enactment.

Dating apps must send fraud notices

This bill would require online dating services to send a clear fraud-ban notice to any member who received a message from an account the provider banned for likely fraud. Notices would need the banned username or profile ID, the most recent message time, a warning not to send money or personal financial info, fraud-avoidance tips (or a link), and customer service contact. Notices must be clear and can be sent by email, text, or another agreed method. Providers would usually have to send the notice within 24 hours, but they may delay up to 3 days for provider judgment, and must honor limited law-enforcement delay requests. The rule would take effect one year after enactment. Providers would be protected from civil liability over the manner, timing, or disclosure in these notices.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

TN • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/4/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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