WASHINGTON – Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Craig Goldman (TX-12) to introduce the Romance Scam Prevention Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill enhances user safety on online dating platforms by requiring service providers to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

“Online dating has become an increasingly common way for people to connect, but unfortunately, it’s also a tool for scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting users,” said Congressman Valadao. “Romance scammers use fake identities to build trust and exploit their victims financially, which has cost Americans over a billion dollars per year. This bipartisan, bicameral bill provides transparency, empowers users to make informed decisions, and reinforces best practices to prevent online scams. I’m proud to help lead the effort to make online dating safer and protect Americans of all ages from financial fraud.

“Dating apps are still a new frontier for criminals and scammers looking to exploit vulnerable individuals online and regulations are lagging behind,” said Rep. Pettersen. “Notifying users if they have been in contact with a potential scammer is a basic security feature that every online dating service should provide. This bill is a great step towards reducing online crime and keeping Americans safe.”

“The exploitation of users on online dating apps is emblematic of the dark side of the digital age,” said Rep. Suozzi. “As Americans increasingly turn to online applications, lawmakers across chambers and across the aisle have a responsibility to crack down on scammers who use the internet for extortion, fraud, and other malign purposes.”

“As millions of Americans turn to online dating services for meaningful connections, a troubling report finds that fraudulent accounts have deceived and exploited innocent Americans out of more than a billion dollars," said Rep. Goldman. "I'm proud to support Rep. David Valadao’s Romance Scam Prevention Act, which requires online dating services to implement stronger safeguards to prevent these devastating scams. It’s important to protect Americans from malicious online users who seek to defraud them.”

Background:

Over 60 million Americans reported using an online dating service in 2023. As Americans continue to go online to find meaningful relationships, scammers are following suit. The Federal Trade Commission reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing over $1.1 billion in 2023 alone.

Criminals have become exceptionally sophisticated when it comes to finding and exploiting their victims online. They use false names and stories to lure individuals into conversation before manipulating them to give up sensitive information. When an online dating service provider becomes aware of a user committing fraudulent activity, like illegally obtaining money, the online dating service provider immediately deactivates the fraudulent user’s account. However, individuals who meet online often take their conversations to other communication platforms, so even when a fraudulent account is removed, an individual might not know they are still communicating with someone who has been banned from the dating platform.

This bill was written to ensure no part could interfere with an active law enforcement investigation. Fraud ban notifications are already active in Vermont, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New York.

Read the full bill here.

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