Sponsors (7)
The resolution aims to reduce financial harm from government-imposter scams through outreach and education, at the modest cost of government spending and a risk of temporarily increased public mistrust of legitimate agency communications.
Consumers — especially older adults, low-income individuals, and middle-class families — would face fewer government-imposter scams and avoid out-of-pocket losses if prevention efforts reduce scam incidence.
Older adults and other consumers would gain increased awareness and education about government imposter scams, reducing their likelihood of falling victim and improving consumer protection.
Taxpayers would bear some additional costs because outreach and education efforts require government resources and funding.
Members of the public, particularly seniors, could experience temporary increased mistrust or anxiety toward legitimate agency communications if specific agencies are highlighted as commonly impersonated.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced March 6, 2025 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress March 6, 2025
States findings that government imposter scams are widespread and financially harmful, documenting recent national statistics on losses, complaint volumes, and which federal agencies are most commonly impersonated. The text highlights large dollar losses in 2023, a rise from 2022, disproportionate harms to older adults, and concludes that increased public awareness and education can reduce victimization. Summarizes data from the Federal Trade Commission and other sources about caller and email impersonation of agencies such as Social Security, Medicare/HHS, USPS, and the IRS, and urges attention to prevention through education and outreach rather than creating new regulatory requirements or spending mandates.