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Stopping Scams and Fraud
Scammers and fraudsters are always looking for new ways to obtain our information and rip us off. Roughly 21 million Americans reported being personally victimized by scams. Americans lose more than $10 billion a year to fraud.
Scams can increase during the holiday season and winter months. In 2024, one study found that 77% of Black Friday themed spam emails were scams. It's important to stay alert, identify potential scams, and respond accordingly.
I want to hear from you:
In Congress, I am working to fight scams and provide families the information and resources needed to protect them from potential scams and fraud. This includes addressing new and emerging scams.
One new type of scam, called DeepFake scams, uses AI Technology to help defraud victims.
DeepFakes are an emerging type of threat where AI creates realistic videos, pictures, audio or text to spread disinformation. In some cases, fraudsters will use DeepFake AI for "face swaps." Face swaps are a process where fraudsters will superimpose another individuals face over their own. Criminals will then attempt to scam victims for financial or personal gain, sometimes impersonating a family member, friend, or national figure.
One solution we discussed was the Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act. This bill establishes a Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence to report to Congress ways we can combat Deep Fakes and other financial scams. This task force will bring together elected officials, industry experts, and consumers to advance strong consumer protections.
We should always be vigilant for potential scams.
If you believe you have been a victim of a scam — Do this first:
- Contact your bank/credit union/card issuer immediately to freeze accounts, dispute charges, and initiate recalls (for wires/ACH).
- Report the suspected scam so law enforcement can act. Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This easy-to-follow webform will route your case to the right agencies.
- Protect your identity. If you believe your identity is compromised, place a fraud alert/credit freeze, and create an IdentityTheft.gov recovery plan.
If you are a Senior or Caregiver, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
- This hotline is a resource of the Department of Justice. When you call, an agent will be able to assist you with one-to one help in reporting Financial Fraud and Scams to the correct agency.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact my office or visit my scam resource page here.
Protecting America
This week, the House of Representatives voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA sets spending targets for national defense focused activities including the Department of Defense to help strengthen our national defense and protect America.
The NDAA authorizes $900.6 billion for national defense spending. Here are some provisions of the bill:
Mission ready
Invests in our troops
Secures our border to keep our communities safer
Saves Taxpayers Money
- Incorporates $20 billion in cost savings to protect taxpayer dollars.
Lowering Costs for Families
Costs remain high, making it harder for families to afford what they need. While inflation has dropped from its 9.1% peak in 2022 to 3%, there is still more work to do to make life more affordable.
One way to make life more affordable is to reduce government red tape. Regulations add up to $16,000 in hidden costs on working families annually. From 2021-2024, new regulations added roughly $1.7 trillion in additional costs. Reducing these costs are beginning to make a difference in the lives of working families, but will continue to take time.
This week, the House voted to pass the PERMIT Act. The PERMIT Act streamlines permitting procedures and duplicative regulations, reducing costs and speeding up construction timelines. These reforms can boost domestic energy production by addressing a permitting backlog within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE has previously reported a backlog of more than 3,500 pending jurisdictional determinations. Completing more projects on time will increase energy production. Increasing energy production will lower costs for working families.
The PERMIT Act makes these reforms while still retaining important water quality and environmental protections.
Click the link here to watch my recent interview discussing the need to reform government and lower costs for working families.
Listening to You
One of my top priorities is being available and accessible to my constituents. This year, I held numerous in-person listening sessions including in Beloit, Bristol, Elkhorn, Janesville, and Mount Pleasant.
This coming Monday, I will hold my monthly telephone town hall at 4:45pm CT. Sign up to receive a call and join our telephone town hall here.
I look forward to hearing your priorities, sharing more information about recent events in Washington, and discussing how we can work to deliver relief to working families.
As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, want to share an opinion, or are having trouble with a federal agency.
On Wisconsin,
Bryan Steil
Member of Congress
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