The Romance Scam Prevention Act is a proposed law aimed at protecting people from online dating scams. By requiring dating apps and websites to notify users if they've interacted with a potential scammer, this bill seeks to prevent financial and emotional harm.
What This Bill Does
The Romance Scam Prevention Act is designed to help users of online dating services avoid falling victim to scams. If someone on a dating app or website is banned for suspicious activity, the service must notify any users who interacted with them. This notification will include the banned user's profile information and the time of their last message. It will also warn users about the potential for fraud and provide tips on how to avoid scams.
Dating platforms have to send these notifications within 24 hours of banning a user. However, if law enforcement is involved and requests a delay, the notification can be sent within three days. This ensures that users are quickly informed about potential risks without interfering with ongoing investigations.
The bill treats any failure to comply with these requirements as an unfair or deceptive act, which can be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general. This creates a national standard, overriding any conflicting state laws, and offers legal protection to platforms that follow the rules.
Why It Matters
Online dating has become a common way for people to meet, but it also opens the door to scams that can lead to financial and emotional distress. By alerting users to potential scams, this bill aims to protect vulnerable individuals, such as seniors and those who are lonely, from losing money and trust.
For everyday Americans, this means added security when using dating apps. With romance scams causing over $1.3 billion in losses in 2022 alone, the bill's provisions could save many from financial ruin. It also empowers users with information and resources to recognize and avoid scams before they cause harm.
Key Facts
- Cost/Budget Impact: No new funding required; uses existing FTC and state resources.
- Timeline for Implementation: Takes effect upon the president's signature.
- Number of People Affected: Potentially impacts 40 million Americans who use dating apps annually.
- Key Dates: Introduced on March 31, 2025; passed the House on June 23, 2025.
- Unanimous House Passage: Reflects strong bipartisan support.
- Bipartisan Sponsorship: Supported by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
- Law Enforcement Carve-Out: Allows notification delays for ongoing investigations.
Arguments in Support
- Protects vulnerable users from financial losses: Notifications help prevent users from sending money to scammers.
- Enhances user safety with timely warnings: Quick notifications allow users to take action before falling victim to fraud.
- Promotes education on fraud avoidance: Provides users with best practices to recognize and avoid scams.
- Creates uniform national standards: Ensures consistent protection across all states.
- Supports law enforcement: Allows for notification delays to aid in criminal investigations.
Arguments in Opposition
- Privacy risks: Sharing message timestamps and usernames may expose user interactions.
- Platform burdens: Small dating services might struggle to comply with the 24-hour notification requirement.
- False positives: Legitimate users could be wrongly flagged as scammers.
- Preemption limits state innovation: National standards could prevent states from implementing stricter protections.