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Congress·In Committee·11 months ago

House Committee Reviews GUARD Act to Combat Elder Fraud and "Pig Butchering" Scams

Also known as: GUARD Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(6)
Retiree
Helps

The bill specifically targets elder financial fraud, giving local police more tools and training to investigate scams that target retirees and recover stolen savings.

Cryptocurrency Investor
Helps

Federal agencies can now help local police track cryptocurrency fraud like pig butchering scams, making it safer to invest in digital assets.

Physical Disability
Helps

The bill's definition of elder financial fraud includes adults with disabilities, providing dedicated law enforcement resources to investigate exploitation.

Cognitive Developmental
Helps

Adults with cognitive disabilities are protected under the elder financial fraud provisions, giving them stronger law enforcement support against exploitation.

Tribal Member
Helps

Tribal law enforcement agencies can access federal grants to hire fraud specialists and buy tracking software to protect their communities from scams.

Small Business Owner
Helps

Small businesses can benefit from better fraud investigations as local police gain tools to track general financial fraud and coordinate with financial institutions.

Key Points

  • This bill, introduced by Congress, allows local, state, and tribal police to use federal grant money to investigate financial crimes. It specifically targets 'pig butchering'—a scam where someone builds trust with a victim before tricking them into a fake investment—and other frauds that target senior citizens.
  • Police departments could use these funds to hire specialized fraud experts and buy new software to track stolen money. It also provides training for officers on how to handle complex digital crimes and how to better support victims who have lost their savings.
  • The policy makes it easier for federal agencies to share high-tech tools with local police. This includes technology used to track cryptocurrency and other digital assets, helping local officers catch scammers who often operate from far away or use confusing technology to hide.
  • To ensure the program is working, police departments must report back on how they used the money and whether it helped lower fraud rates in their area. The Treasury Department would also be required to give Congress a full report on how many Americans are being scammed and the total amount of money being lost each year.
Criminal JusticeConsumer ProtectionCryptocurrencyTechnologyCybersecurity

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Apr 21, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Apr 21, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

1 year after the bill becomes law

Treasury Department reports to Congress on fraud statistics and recommendations

Congress will get data on how many Americans are being scammed each year and how much money is being lost, which could lead to stronger protections.

2 years after the bill becomes law

Comprehensive report on state of scams in America due to Congress

A detailed analysis of how many scams happen, who's behind them, and how enforcement actions are working will become public information.

Within months after the bill becomes law

Local police departments begin receiving federal grant funding for fraud investigations

Your local police could hire fraud experts, buy cryptocurrency tracking tools, and get training to better protect your community from scams.

Related News

2 articles
Yellowhammer News·13 days ago

Britt-led GUARD Act advances in Senate to combat senior-targeted fraud

The bipartisan GUARD Act advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in February 2026. The bill expands how local law enforcement can use existing federal grant funds to investigate financial fraud, particularly scams involving digital assets and blockchain transactions.

R+
CoinGeek·10 months ago

US lawmakers eye leveraging blockchain against finance scams

The GUARD Act would support law enforcement by allowing state and local agencies to use federal grant funding to investigate 'pig butchering' scams. It also permits federal agencies to assist local departments with sophisticated tracing tools for blockchain technology.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

GUARD Act

Bill NumberHR 2978
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(22)
D: 11R: 11

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.