WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Abe Hamadeh has introduced the CATFISH Act of 2026, legislation designed to strengthen protections for senior citizens and other vulnerable Americans targeted by increasingly sophisticated online fraud schemes.
The legislation comes as federal authorities warn about the growing threat posed by criminals impersonating government agencies and individuals online. The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General recently warned of a significant increase in government-imposter scam emails falsely claiming to provide recipients with access to their Social Security statements.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also warned that criminals using fake online identities — commonly known as “catfishing” — operate across dating websites and social media platforms. Scammers can spend weeks or months developing relationships and gaining victims’ trust before attempting to steal money, financial information, or other sensitive personal data.
Older Americans are particularly vulnerable to these schemes. In 2024, Americans age 60 and older reported losing $2.4 billion to fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Other estimates suggest the true financial toll is substantially higher because many victims never report their losses.
Many of these scams are carried out by sophisticated transnational criminal organizations that use prepaid gift cards, digital payment platforms, cryptocurrency, and other methods to quickly move stolen funds, making it extremely difficult for victims or law enforcement to recover the money.
“My team has received many requests for assistance from constituents who have been victimized themselves or whose loved ones have fallen victim to these sophisticated criminals. The stories are heartbreaking,” said Congressman Hamadeh.
“For too many seniors, these losses mean depleted retirement accounts, delayed medical care, diminished independence, and financial devastation from which they may never recover. These often-devastating crimes can be prevented, and my legislation aims to do just that.”
The CATFISH Act of 2026 would:
Train frontline employees to recognize fraud and identify warning signs that a senior or vulnerable individual may be the victim of financial exploitation;
Provide seniors with fraud warnings before money is lost, helping potential victims recognize suspicious transactions before funds leave their accounts;
Establish anti-fraud standards for financial institutions to strengthen protections for vulnerable customers;
Encourage best practices to prevent financial losses and improve the ability of institutions to intervene when warning signs of fraud are detected; and
Study additional remedies for fraud victims, including ways to strengthen prevention efforts and improve assistance for Americans who have already suffered financial losses.
The legislation is intended to create additional safeguards at critical points where fraudulent transactions can still be stopped, while improving awareness among seniors, families, financial institutions, and frontline employees.
“Criminals should not be able to hide behind a fake profile, manipulate a vulnerable senior, and walk away with someone’s life savings,” Congressman Hamadeh said. “We need to make it harder for these criminals to succeed and give families, financial institutions, and law enforcement better tools to stop fraud before the damage is done.”
Protecting Arizona Seniors
Congressman Hamadeh’s office encourages constituents who believe they or a loved one may have been targeted by a government-imposter scam, identity theft, or other fraudulent scheme to report the incident to the appropriate authorities and exercise caution before sending money or providing sensitive personal information to someone whose identity cannot be independently verified.
Be the first to comment