WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation, joined Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-07) in introducing the Scam Defense Strategy Act, bipartisan legislation which would strengthen Department of Defense (DOD) cyberspace capabilities in combatting foreign digital scam operations.

“Malicious scammers who steal the data and hard-earned dollars of Americans often funnel stolen dollars and sensitive information to foreign criminal organizations, posing a direct threat to our national security. The Scam Defense Strategy Act improves our national cyber defense by enabling Cyber Command to better assess actions to disrupt these foreign crime networks. I’m proud to join Rep. Vindman in introducing this important legislation which will protect Americans, and our national security, from foreign exploitation,” said Rep. Finstad.

“With prices already too damn high, the last thing American families need is to fall victim to a scam. As a former prosecutor, I know far too many Americans have lost their life savings or had their personal information stolen by advanced foreign scam networks. It’s time Congress took action to protect consumers from fraudsters,” said Rep. Vindman. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to disrupt fraud and hold transnational crime networks accountable better protecting families across Virginia and the United States.”

Specifically, the Scam Defense Strategy Act would require U.S. Cyber Command to submit a comprehensive report to Congress regarding actions in cyberspace that could be implemented to defend Americans from foreign crime networks that steal billions from Americans via text, email, and phone call scams.

The legislation is endorsed by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, and Operation Shamrock.