CATFISH Act of 2026

This bill would add up to 10 more years in prison and up to $1,000,000 more in fines for people convicted of mail, wire, or bank fraud committed as part of a romance scam against someone age 60 or older. It would require the FBI to create training programs for financial institutions and for employees of retailers with 500 or more full-time workers, including steps for when a senior buys a gift card worth more than $500. Banks, credit unions, digital asset providers, and other covered financial institutions would have to report listed warning signs of fraud involving senior customers to the Treasury Department, set up fraud-prevention procedures, train employees, and give seniors information on reporting fraud. Federal regulators could seek civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation, and the bill calls for a federal study of remedies for romance fraud victims and for Treasury rules and guidance.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Abraham J. Hamadeh Republican sponsor
• 0 cosponsors