PRIA Logo™
HR2481119th CongressWALLET

Romance Scam Prevention Act

Sponsored By: Representative Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

Became Law

Summary

Mandatory fraud notifications require online dating services to alert members when they receive messages from a banned account. The law spells out what those notices must say, how quickly they must be sent, and who enforces the rules.

Show full summary
  • Members who get messages from a banned member must receive a clear fraud-ban notice that names the banned member’s username or profile identifier and lists the most recent time they exchanged messages. The notice must warn against sending cash or personal financial information and provide fraud-prevention tips and the service’s customer support contact.
  • Online dating service providers must deliver the notice by email, text, or another consented method and generally must do so within 24 hours. Providers may delay up to 3 days with justification or at law enforcement request and get a safe harbor from liability to the member, the banned member, or a former member for complying.
  • Enforcement is shared. The Federal Trade Commission treats violations as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act and can enforce them. State attorneys general can sue in federal court on behalf of residents, with notice to the FTC and limited parallel-action rules. The law creates a single national standard and takes effect one year after enactment.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Federal and state enforcement protects daters

Beginning one year after enactment, the Federal Trade Commission enforces the dating-service fraud rules and regulations issued under them. Violations count as unfair or deceptive practices under federal law, with the same enforcement powers, penalties, and legal protections. The Commission keeps its authority under other laws. State attorneys general and other authorized state consumer protection officers can sue in federal court to protect residents affected or threatened by violations. States generally must notify the Commission and provide the complaint before filing, or immediately afterward when advance notice is not feasible. The Commission can join the case and appeal. States cannot bring a case against the same defendant for the same alleged violation while the Commission’s case is pending. Existing state investigative powers remain intact.

Dating users get fraud ban alerts

Beginning one year after enactment, dating services must warn members who received a message from an account banned for fraud. The clear, easy-to-see alert must identify the banned account and give the latest time the two members exchanged messages. It must warn of possible false identity or fraud and advise against sending money or personal financial information. It must also provide fraud-prevention advice, directly or through a link, and customer service contact details. Services must send alerts by email, text, or another method with the member’s consent. Alerts are due within 24 hours after the ban starts, or within 3 days when the service determines a delay is necessary. If law enforcement requests a delay for an ongoing investigation, services must wait until that delay, including extensions, ends. They must then send the alert within 3 days. Services are shielded from liability to members, banned members, and former members for actions taken to meet these alert requirements.

One dating alert standard replaces local rules

Beginning one year after enactment, one federal standard governs dating-service alerts about messages involving fraud-banned accounts. State and local governments cannot enforce rules requiring, banning, or changing how those alerts are given. This makes alert rules uniform but removes state and local control over those requirements. State and local contract laws and laws covering harm, such as negligence, remain in place.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

CA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

  • Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12]

    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

  • Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 4/1/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]

    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.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation