H.R. 5490 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Sep 18, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCracks down on foreign online scam operations
This bill tells the President to punish foreign individuals and organizations that run online financial scams targeting Americans. It creates a team across different government agencies to find and shut down these criminal operations, especially large scam centers that force trafficked people to work. The Department of State would also be able to help victims of trafficking who were forced to work in these scam centers.
How it affects you
If you've been targeted by an online scam run from overseas, this bill aims to hold the people behind it accountable through penalties that freeze their assets in the U.S. People who were trafficked and forced to participate in scams would gain access to support services, shelter, and help reintegrating back into society.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Sep 18, 2025)
Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act
This bill requires the President to (1) impose applicable sanctions on foreign persons (individuals or entities) responsible for online financial scams against U.S. nationals, and (2) establish an interagency task force to shut down the criminal syndicates perpetuating such scams.
Under the bill, the President must determine whether 43 specified foreign persons, and any other foreign persons the President determines are responsible for or complicit in online financial scams against U.S. nationals, are subject to sanctions under specified laws and Executive Order 13581 . Upon such determination, the President must impose applicable sanctions (for example, blocking the sanctioned person's property transactions within the United States).
The President must also establish an interagency task force to shut down transnational criminal syndicates that use large scam centers and forced labor of trafficked persons to perpetuate mass online scams against Americans. The task force must (1) submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress to combat these scam centers and dismantle the criminal elements involved with them, and (2) coordinate and oversee implementation of the strategy. Within 360 days of submitting the strategy to Congress and annually thereafter for five years the task force must submit to Congress a report addressing various topics related to such scam centers including a list of all foreign persons sanctioned by the United States for their scam center involvement.
The Department of State is authorized to provide trauma-informed care, shelter, reintegration, and support services for victims of trafficking in persons within online scam centers.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5490
A BILL
Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-IN-6) · Introduced Sep 18, 2025 · International Affairs · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 3, 2025: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.”
Sections
Sections · 10
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2FindingsNo change
- Sec. 3Statement of policyNo change
- Sec. 4Task ForceNo change
- Sec. 5Elements of comprehensive strategyNo change
- Sec. 6Annual report to CongressNo change
- Sec. 7Imposition of sanctionsNo change
- Sec. 8Programs to support victims of forced criminalityNo change
- Sec. 9Authorization of appropriationsNo change
- Sec. 10DefinitionsNo change