Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens

Key Points

• This order creates a new government task force to track down and shut down "scam centers" and international criminal groups. These groups are responsible for common online threats like fake emails, computer viruses, and extortion schemes that target families and seniors.
• The government is looking to create a Victims Restoration Program. This program would take money and assets seized from hackers and scammers and give them back to the Americans who were cheated out of their life savings or retirement funds.
• The United States will put heavy pressure on foreign countries that allow these scam centers to operate within their borders. Countries that don't help stop these crimes could face consequences like losing U.S. financial aid, facing trade penalties, or having their officials banned from entering the country.
• Federal agencies have 120 days to come up with a specific action plan to dismantle these criminal networks. They are also directed to work more closely with private tech companies to better identify and block the digital tools that scammers use to hide their identities and steal information.

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