National Scam Survivor Day would be designated on May 14 under a bipartisan bill introduced last week by U.S. Reps. Bryan Steil (R-WI) and Zach Nunn (R-IA).
“Each year, scammers exploit millions of Americans and defraud them of their hard-earned savings,” Rep. Steil said. “I will continue working to prevent families and seniors from falling victim to scams.”
The Federal Trade Commission reported that in 2025, roughly three million Americans filed fraud reports, an increase of 400,000 from the previous year. It’s also estimated that Americans lost more than $195 billion to scams in 2024, an increase of $35 billion over the prior year.
Rep. Steil on May 14 sponsored House Resolution (H.Res.) 1288 alongside six original cosponsors, including Rep. Nunn and U.S. Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) to encourage scam survivors to tell their stories in an effort to combat the stigma that may prevent individuals from seeking the guidance and assistance they deserve.
“I commend every American who speaks out to raise awareness after being victimized by scammers,” said Rep. Steil. “By sharing their experiences, scam survivors help break the stigma scam victims can face while ensuring our communities have the tools to identify, disarm, and report emerging scams.”
Additionally, H.Res. 1288 urges a collaborative approach to support scam survivors and prevent future scams among government, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations, according to the text of the resolution.
“A central Iowa man spent months building what he believed was a genuine online relationship, only to lose $164,000 to fraud. A woman from Des Moines fell victim to a romance scam and lost $15,000. These are just two of the stories behind the $96 million Iowans lost to financial fraud in 2025,” said Rep. Nunn. “Iowans shouldn’t have to worry about scammers robbing them of their life savings through fake investment schemes and online fraud.”
The resolution is supported by the International Better Business Bureau and is under consideration by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“Scams are more than just an annoying robocall — these organized attacks rob working families of their hard-earned savings and financial stability,” Rep. Harder said. “Cracking down on these criminals starts with raising awareness of the nationwide scam crisis.”