President Signs Congressman Valadao’s Romance Scam Prevention Act into Law

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, President Trump signed Congressman David Valadao's (CA-22) Romance Scam Prevention Act into law. This bipartisan bill will require dating apps and services to issue fraud ban notifications to users who have interacted with a person removed from the app for fraudulent activity. Reps. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Craig Goldman (TX-12), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) co-led the introduction of the bill in the House. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the companion bill in the Senate. “I’m extremely proud to see my bill, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, signed into law,” said Congressman Valadao. “Millions of Americans use online dating platforms to find meaningful relationships, making these platforms a target for scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting victims and take advantage of them financially. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is an important step toward strengthening protections against online scams, and I’m grateful to everyone who worked to get this bill across the finish line and help keep Americans safe online.” “As technology changes faster than ever, criminals are finding new ways to use it to exploit Americans,” said Congressman Suozzi. “Dating apps have become a new frontier for scammers looking to manipulate people and steal their money. Congress must keep up. This commonsense law ensures users know when anyone they’ve interacted with on a dating app has been removed for fraudulent activity, giving them the information they need to protect themselves. I’m proud that Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate, and the President of the United States, came together to get this done.” "Romance scammers stole almost $1.5 billion from innocent Americans in 2025 alone, turning online dating platforms into a tool for fraud,” said Congressman Goldman. “I’m proud to co-lead Rep. Valadao’s bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act, which has now passed both the House and Senate. By requiring online dating sites to alert users when they’ve interacted with someone removed for fraud, this bill helps stop scammers before they can steal another American’s hard-earned money.” “Scammers prey on Americans looking for companionship, exploiting their trust and, in too many cases, stealing their life savings,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Romance Scam Prevention Act will put critical safeguards in place to protect all dating app users – but especially senior citizens – from fraudulent schemes. I am pleased to see President Trump sign this important legislation into law and take action to protect Americans from romance scams.” “People turn to dating apps looking for love and connection, not to get scammed,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Our bill puts real safeguards in place that will protect all dating app users, especially senior citizens, from harmful, fraudulent schemes. We’re glad to see our safeguards become law.” Background: Over 60 million Americans used an online dating service in 2023, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that romance scams resulted in victims losing over $1.1 billion. Criminals 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 was banned from the platform. Read the full bill here . ###