End the Scamdemic: Hold Phone Companies Accountable. No Spam Calls

Scam calls are no longer just a nuisance. They are a direct economic attack on American families. Here in Massachusetts’ 8th Congressional District, the damage is real and growing. Thousands of residents are targeted every year. Families in Dorchester, Quincy, Brockton, South Boston, and West Roxbury have lost millions of dollars to organized fraud. Seniors are hit the hardest, often losing thousands in a single call. These are not isolated incidents. This is a coordinated global industry targeting our communities.

Nationally, the crisis is even worse. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a massive increase in just one year. Tens of millions of Americans are targeted annually. Scam operations based in countries like India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Romania operate at scale, exploiting weak enforcement and outdated systems while Washington fails to act. This is not just fraud. This is economic warfare against the American people.

For over 20 years, Stephen Lynch has represented this district. During that time, scam calls have exploded into a multibillion-dollar criminal industry. He has not led on this issue. He has not forced accountability on foreign governments. He has not pushed aggressive enforcement against telecom carriers enabling these calls. While seniors are being drained of their savings, Washington politicians protect the status quo.

As Your Congressman I Will:

Introduce the American Anti-Scam and Consumer Protection Act

This legislation will treat scam calls as organized international crime, not minor fraud. It will establish federal enforcement authority to target networks, seize assets, and dismantle operations at their source.

Sanction Scam Haven Nations

Countries that allow scam operations to flourish will face real consequences. We will designate repeat offenders as Scam Haven Nations, impose financial sanctions on telecom companies and government-linked entities, freeze U.S. assets, restrict banking access, and suspend visas until enforcement action is taken. We will demand extradition of high-level operators.

End Caller ID Spoofing and Secure Our Networks

We will require full caller ID authentication for every call entering the United States. Any call that cannot be verified will be blocked. Telecom companies that knowingly route scam traffic will face fines up to $1 million per violation.

Protect Seniors, Veterans, and Working Families

We will establish a Scam Victim Recovery Fund funded by fines and sanctions to reimburse victims. We will launch a National Scam Alert System to warn communities in real time and require public registries of active scam numbers and tactics.

Enforce Transparency and Accountability

We will mandate annual national scam audits through the Government Accountability Office, detailing financial losses, countries of origin, and enforcement actions. We will require telecommunications companies to publicly disclose their efforts to identify, block, and prevent fraudulent calls, ensuring that carriers profiting from America's communications networks are held accountable for protecting American consumers.