119-SRES-627 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

Designates March 5, 2026 as National Slam the Scam Day to boost scam awareness and prevention, especially against fraudsters posing as government officials.

What It Does

This is a simple Senate resolution (not a law) that sets aside March 5, 2026 for nationwide outreach on scams—particularly “government imposter” schemes where callers, texters, or websites pretend to be agencies like Social Security, IRS, Medicare, USPS, or the FTC. It encourages education and reporting, recognizes the roles of law enforcement and consumer‑protection partners, and urges people to ignore suspicious contacts and share warnings with family and friends.

• Designates March 5, 2026 as “National Slam the Scam Day.”
• Recognizes the role of law enforcement, consumer groups, phone providers, area agencies on aging, and financial institutions in preventing scams and educating the public.
• Encourages policies and programs that make scams harder to pull off and people easier to protect.
• Urges the public to ignore unsolicited demands for payment or personal information and to report scams to the right agency (e.g., SSA OIG, Treasury IG for Tax Administration, or the FTC).

Why it matters: Scams drain billions of dollars each year and often hit older adults hardest. A focused awareness day can amplify prevention tips, steer people to trusted resources, and help families talk about red flags before money is lost.

Who’s For It

• Lead sponsor: Sen. Rick Scott (R‑FL).
• Co‑sponsors: Sens. Mark Kelly (D‑AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D‑NY), Raphael Warnock (D‑GA), Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT), Susan Collins (R‑ME), Marsha Blackburn (R‑TN), Mike Rounds (R‑SD), and Ashley Moody (R‑FL).
• Backers say a national awareness push makes it easier for people to spot scams, ignore pressure tactics, and report fraud swiftly.

Who’s Against It

The resolution lists no formal opponents. Potential concerns some may raise include:

• It is symbolic and does not directly increase enforcement or penalties.
• Public‑awareness days can be crowded; the message may get lost without sustained follow‑through.
• Existing federal and state efforts already warn about these scams; duplication could dilute resources.

What’s Next

As of March 5, 2026, S. Res. 627 was submitted and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. If advanced, the full Senate could adopt it by vote. Because it is a Senate simple resolution, it does not go to the House or the President and would express the Senate’s position while designating the commemorative day for 2026.