Summary: SRES 118 – National Slam the Scam Day
A Senate resolution that designates a specific awareness day to combat government imposter scams and promote education to prevent scams targeting the public.
Purpose and Intent
- Establish March 6, 2025 as “National Slam the Scam Day.”
- Raise awareness about scams where individuals impersonate government employees and agencies.
- Promote education and preventive measures to protect the public from government imposter scams and related scams.
Key Provisions
- Designation: The Senate designates March 6, 2025, as National Slam the Scam Day.
- Scope of the Problem: Recognizes government imposter scams—solicitations or impersonations by any method (mail, telephone, text, email, social media, websites).
- Roles of Stakeholders: Acknowledges that law enforcement, consumer protection groups, telephone companies, area agencies on aging, and financial institutions all play vital roles in preventing government imposter scams and educating the public.
- Encouragement of Action: Encourages policies and programs to prevent government imposter scams and to improve protective measures.
- Public Guidance: Encourages the public to:
- Ignore solicitations from those falsely claiming to represent government agencies;
- Share information about government imposter scams with family and friends;
- Report scams to appropriate authorities (e.g., Office of the Inspector General for relevant agencies like SSA, Treasury IG for Tax Administration, or the Federal Trade Commission).
- Honor and Recognition: Honors dedication of individuals and organizations working to fight government imposter scams.
Affected Parties
- General public, who are the targets or potential targets of government imposter scams.
- Government agencies (e.g., offices of inspector generals) and the Federal Trade Commission.
- Law enforcement, consumer protection organizations, financial institutions, telephone/communication companies, and area agencies on aging, all of which are noted as key players in prevention and education.
Procedural and Timeline Details
- Status: Introduced in the Senate on March 6, 2025.
- Consideration and Passage: The resolution was considered and agreed to by unanimous consent, without amendments, and with a preamble.
- Legislative actions on the same date indicate passage in the Senate (unanimous consent; no floor amendments).
Sponsors
- Primary sponsor: Rick Scott.
- Co-sponsors include: Mark Kelly, Richard Blumenthal, Susan M. Collins, Mike Rounds, Ashley Moody, Kirsten E. Gillibrand (with additional cosponsors listed).
Potential Impact
- Non-binding, symbolic action that elevates public awareness of government imposter scams.
- Encourages cross-sector collaboration and public education without creating new statutory requirements or funding.
- Provides a formal, national framework for recognizing efforts by agencies and organizations working to prevent scams and protect consumers.
This resolution serves as a public-education initiative and a call to action for coordinated prevention efforts and reporting of government imposter scams.
