Vermonters lose millions of dollars to online fraud schemes every year 

The SCAM Act is supported by The Vermont Country Store 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, cosponsored the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Bernie Moreno (D-Ohio), to crack down on predatory online scams advertisements that cost Americans billions of dollars every year. The Senators’ legislation would require online platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent fraudulent and deceptive ads and strengthen accountability when scams slip through. The bill would also strengthen the Federal Trade Commission’s and states’ ability to enforce violations of consumer protection laws. 

“Nowadays, what can start as a simple ad online can rob someone of their entire life savings. Scammers are getting smarter by the day—so should Congress in combatting their schemes,” said Senator Welch. “There is no good reason why corporations and social media platforms aren’t held duly accountable for letting fraudulent ads run on their sites. We’re demanding accountability to crack down on deceptive ads and better protect Americans online.” 

“Scammers are using social media to swindle Americans out of their hard-earned savings, and right now, those platforms face almost no consequences for letting it happen,” said Senator Gallego. “If a company is making money from running ads on their site, it has a responsibility to make sure those ads aren’t fraudulent. This bipartisan bill will hold social media companies accountable and protect consumers’ money online.” 

“It is critical that we protect American consumers from deceptive ads and shameless fraudsters who make millions taking advantage of legal loopholes. We can’t sit by while social media companies have business models that knowingly enable scams that target the American people,” said Senator Moreno. 

The SCAM Act is endorsed by The Vermont Country Store, the Alliance for Retired Americans, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), American Bankers Association, Arizona Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Federation of America, Ohio Bankers Association, and the National Consumers League (NCL). 

“It is nearly impossible for people to avoid online scams and fraudulent advertising where their identity and life savings can be stolen with one wrong click. It’s equally challenging for legitimate businesses to combat fraudsters and maintain customer trust and loyalty,” said Kara Soulia, President, The Vermont Country Store. “We fully support the SCAM Act, and applaud Sen. Welch for his support, because protecting Americans, organizations, and businesses from being victimized isn’t about politics, it’s about doing what’s right.” 

“Tech platforms have massive reach and it’s their responsibility to prevent the misuse of their services for scamming consumers,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud, National Consumers League. “This bill would make clear that these giants must do more to protect the public.”   

“AARP, which advocates for the more than 125 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act). Online scam ads have become increasingly sophisticated and pervasive, with criminals exploiting advertising on major social media platforms to target older adults. By establishing strong protections and accountability measures, the SCAM Act will help safeguard older Americans from fraud and reduce the spread of harmful scam ads,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, AARP. 

“As devastating scam losses continue to rise for the average person, some Big Tech platforms are turning a blind eye to the scam ads they profit from on their platform,” said Ben Winters, Director of AI and Privacy, Consumer Federation of America. “This bipartisan bill places the appropriate responsibility on these platforms, and clarifies there’s no get out of jail free card for social media companies facilitating scams.” 

Read and download the full text of the bill. 

Senator Welch has led bipartisan efforts to protect consumers from scams and rip-offs. Senator Welch’s bipartisan Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act would provide relief to victims of fraud, scams, thefts, accidents, and other personal casualty losses. The bill would also reinstate the tax deduction for personal casualty and theft losses to ensure victims of scams, robberies, storms, and fires do not have to pay taxes on stolen assets and further drain Americans’ hard-earned savings and financial security.   

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