HR5490119th CongressWALLET

Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act

Sponsored By: Representative Shreve

Introduced

Summary

Creates an interagency Task Force to dismantle transnational online scam centers that use forced labor and trafficking, and to coordinate sanctions, asset recovery, and victim support across U.S. agencies and allies. This bill would push a whole-of-government strategy to stop mass online fraud rings in Southeast Asia and hold enablers accountable.

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  • Families and consumers: Requires annual unclassified reports to Congress with estimates of money stolen from U.S. nationals, seizures, and trends to improve public awareness and oversight.
  • Law enforcement and agencies: Sets a Task Force chaired by the Secretary of State with DOJ, DHS, Treasury, FBI, and others, requires full data sharing, and demands a comprehensive strategy within 180 days with measurable indicators like sanctions and indictments.
  • Victims and diplomacy: Authorizes State Department programs for trauma informed care, shelter, and reintegration and presses foreign governments while authorizing targeted sanctions under Global Magnitsky and trafficking laws.

*Authorizes $30.0 million for FY2026 and $30.0 million for FY2027 to the State Department to implement the strategy, adding $60.0 million in authorized federal spending across those years.*

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Help for trafficking victims from scam centers

The bill would authorize $30 million in 2026 and $30 million in 2027 for victim services through the State Department. If you are a trafficking victim from an online scam center, you could get shelter, trauma care, and help returning home and rebuilding your life. Programs would be designed to avoid revictimization and to collect evidence to help prosecute scammers.

National task force to stop online scams

If enacted, the government would set up a cross‑agency task force within 30 days. Within 180 days, it would deliver a national plan to shut down online scam centers and support trafficking victims. It would work with police, banks, social media, telecom, dating apps, crypto exchanges, and allies to disrupt scams and recover stolen money. Agencies would have to share data, and the task force would report to Congress about a year after the plan and then yearly for five years. The task force would end seven years after enactment.

Sanctions on foreign online scam leaders

This bill would direct the President to use sanctions laws against named foreign people and others who run online scams targeting Americans. Within 180 days, the President would have to decide who meets the criteria and impose sanctions. People forced into scams as trafficking victims would not be sanctioned. The President could waive sanctions for national security, but must tell Congress and wait 15 days.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Shreve

IN • R

Cosponsors

  • Moolenaar

    MI • R

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Rulli

    OH • R

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Huizenga

    MI • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Suozzi

    NY • D

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Yakym

    IN • R

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

  • McDowell

    NC • R

    Sponsored 11/18/2025

  • Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]

    GU • R

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Gottheimer

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 11/25/2025

  • Vindman

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Riley (NY)

    NY • D

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Lawler

    NY • R

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Smith (NJ)

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Sherman

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Amo

    RI • D

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • McBride

    DE • D

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Castro (TX)

    TX • D

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Kennedy (NY)

    NY • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Messmer

    IN • R

    Sponsored 12/10/2025

  • Whitesides

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/10/2025

  • Davidson

    OH • R

    Sponsored 12/11/2025

  • Biggs (SC)

    SC • R

    Sponsored 12/11/2025

  • Baumgartner

    WA • R

    Sponsored 12/12/2025

  • Gillen

    NY • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Olszewski

    MD • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Kean

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Tran

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Kim

    CA • R

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

  • Kamlager-Dove

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

  • Wagner

    MO • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

  • Downing

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

  • Stauber

    MN • R

    Sponsored 2/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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