As Financial Scams Spike During The Holiday Season, Senator Gillibrand Demands Stronger Safeguards To Protect Seniors; Announces Legislation To Sleigh Scammers

As Financial Scams Spike During The Holiday Season, Senator Gillibrand Demands Stronger Safeguards To Protect Seniors; Announces Legislation To Sleigh Scammers

Dec 4, 2025

Americans Lost $16.6 Billion To Scams In 2024; $4.8 Billion Was Stolen From Seniors

Gillibrand's National Strategy for Combating Scams Act Would Help "Sleigh" Scammers by Requiring the FBI to Develop a Coordinated National Strategy to Combat Scams

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, held a virtual press conference to demand stronger safeguards to protect seniors from getting scammed this holiday season. Gillibrand's bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to develop a coordinated national strategy to combat scams.

"Last year alone, Americans lost over $16 billion to scams. That's a staggering amount of money that's been stolen from our families, our neighbors, and, disproportionately, our seniors," said Senator Gillibrand. "I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to help make sure seniors don't get scrooged this holiday season. It's clear that we need a coordinated national strategy to tackle the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting our seniors, and this legislation would bring that to fruition. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this vital bill across the finish line."

More than four in ten Americans say they have lost money to scams or had their sensitive information obtained fraudulently. Criminals increasingly utilize advanced tools like generative AI and voice deepfakes to deceive victims, disproportionately targeting older adults. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified at least 13 agencies involved in anti-scam efforts, each working independently under different mandates and authorities. GAO has recommended that the FBI take the lead in creating a National Strategy for Combating Scams to enhance federal coordination and effectiveness in fighting these crimes. Gillibrand's legislation would give the FBI a legal obligation to follow through on this recommendation.

The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act was introduced into the Senate alongside Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ashley Moody (R-FL). It was introduced into the House of Representatives by Representative Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) and Representative Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02).

"Families across the country are being hammered by increasingly sophisticated scams, and Washington has been far too slow to respond," said Senator Scott. "As chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am proud to join Ranking Member Gillibrand in this bipartisan effort to finally bring federal agencies together, cut the duplication, and create a real national plan to protect seniors and hardworking Americans. After the findings of our fraud report, it's clear we need a coordinated strategy, not more bureaucracy or new spending, and this bill delivers exactly that. I'm proud to help lead this charge to crack down on criminals and keep Americans safe."

"Every year, scammers steal billions of dollars from Americans, harming families, especially seniors. But the federal government lacks a strategy to address the scope and speed of these schemes," said Senator Kelly. "This bipartisan bill will create a coordinated approach to crack down on fraud, better protect families and seniors, and hold scammers accountable."

"I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act in the House, alongside my colleagues in the Senate, to ensure we are addressing the rising scam threat in a coordinated and strategic manner," said Representative Amo. "I look forward to working together as the national strategy is developed to keep fighting scammers and keep Rhode Islanders money where it belongs, in their pockets."

The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act builds on Senator Gillibrand's work to address scams as the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee. She has led the fight to protect seniors from financial frauds and scams, raised awareness about predatory scammers targeting seniors, and demanded answers from those attempting to cut funding for agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She has also introduced legislation such as the Senior Financial Empowerment Act, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act, and the DO NOT Call Act. These vital bills would help seniors avoid financial scams, support law enforcement efforts to catch fraudsters, and establish new criminal penalties for robocallers, including prison time.

The full text of the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act can be found here.

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