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HR7548119th CongressWALLET
SCAM Act
Sponsored By: Representative Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
Introduced
Summary
Holding platforms accountable for paid scam ads. This bill would bar online platforms from displaying commercial ads they accepted payment for if they did not take reasonable steps to stop fraudulent or deceptive ads.
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- Consumers get faster remedies and a private way to seek relief. Platforms would have to investigate reports within 72 hours, notify reporters within 24 hours after the investigation ends, and remove proven frauds within 24 hours of a determination. Private lawsuits could seek injunctions, actual damages, restitution, and triple damages for willful violations.
- Platforms and advertisers face new identity and verification rules. Advertisers would need verified legal names, locations, ID or entity documents, contact details, impersonation controls, and both automated and manual fraud detection; platforms can gain a compliance presumption by submitting an FTC‑approved fraud detection program.
- Regulators and states get broad enforcement roles. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the law alongside existing authority and state attorneys general could sue on behalf of residents. Regulations must be issued within one year and private suits have a five‑year statute of limitations from discovery.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Limits on Section 230 immunity
If enacted, the bill would say Section 230(c)(1) immunity would not apply to violations of this law. Protections under Section 230(c)(2) would still apply. The bill would not preempt State or local laws and would include a severability clause to preserve the rest of the section if part is invalidated.
Requirements for verifying and removing ads
If enacted, online platforms that take money to show ads would have to verify advertisers before placing paid ads. Verification would include legal name, physical location, government ID or business documents, contact information, and steps to stop identity circumvention. Platforms would need impersonation detection, automated and manual fraud detection, and a clear tool for users to report suspicious paid ads. After a report or detection, platforms would have to investigate within 72 hours, notify the reporter within 24 hours after the investigation ends, and remove violative ads within 24 hours of a finding. Platforms that submit an approved detection program and show active enforcement and resources would get a presumption they took reasonable steps.
Suing platforms for fake ad harms
If enacted, you would be able to sue in federal court if a paid ad on a platform harms you. You could seek injunctive relief, actual damages, restitution, and other equitable relief. A court could award up to three times your actual damages if the company acted willfully or knowingly. A prevailing plaintiff could recover litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees. You must start the case within 5 years after you discovered the violation.
FTC rulemaking and enforcement powers
If enacted, violations of this law would be treated as violations of the FTC Act. The Federal Trade Commission would have its usual powers, duties, and penalties to enforce the law. The FTC would have to write implementing regulations within 1 year and review those rules every year.
State attorneys general can sue
If enacted, a State attorney general would be able to bring a federal suit on behalf of residents to stop violations and get damages, restitution, or other relief. The State AG generally would have to notify the FTC and include a copy of the complaint before suing. The FTC could intervene, be heard, and appeal. If the FTC already sued the same defendant, the State usually could not sue that defendant while the FTC's case is pending.
Definitions for deceptive ads and platforms
If enacted, the bill would define key terms used by this law. "Deceptive" would follow the FTC Act but be limited to material misrepresentations or omissions likely to cause financial harm. "Online platform" would mean public-facing sites or apps that mainly host user-generated content, like social media. "Commission" would mean the Federal Trade Commission.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
MS • R
Sponsored 10/19/2026
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]
MI • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
NJ • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4]
SC • R
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Sponsored 5/15/2026
Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
WI • R
Sponsored 5/15/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3]
IN • R
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/3/2026
Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
KY • R
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
FL • R
Sponsored 6/15/2026
Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]
TN • R
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 6/29/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]
FL • R
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
LA • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
KS • R
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]
NE • R
Sponsored 8/27/2026
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
IA • R
Sponsored 8/27/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 9/21/2026
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 9/28/2026
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
VA • R
Sponsored 9/28/2026
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
TX • R
Sponsored 10/1/2026
Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]
CO • R
Sponsored 10/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov