Luján Leads Effort to Protect Tribes from Scams During Covid-19 Pandemic

Press Release

U.S. House Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) helped lead the House passage of the Fraud and Scams Reduction Act, which includes bipartisan legislation that he introduced to identify scams targeting Tribes and Tribal members. The Fraud and Scams Reduction Act addresses scams preying on seniors, military service members, and Tribal members that have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), fraud reports have risen by 144% during the pandemic from 770,000 per quarter over the past few years to 1.1 million this summer. The FTC also reported that scams have resulted in the loss of over $1.5 billion in stolen assets so far in 2020.

"As Congress tackles the threat of scams that have sharply risen since the onset of the pandemic, I'm proud to have worked across the aisle to secure legislation to identify scams targeting Indian Country and to provide a roadmap for Congress to take additional action to end these fraudulent schemes," said Assistant Speaker Luján. "Millions of Americans are already facing financial hardship due to the pandemic. That's why I voted to protect their hard-earned savings and why I will continue fighting for the resources that Tribal members and New Mexicans need to get through these difficult times."

The Protecting Indian Tribes from Scams Act requires the FTC to:

Conduct a study, in consultation with Tribes, on unfair or deceptive acts and practices targeted at Tribes or Tribal members;
Submit a report to Congress on the types of scams targeted at Tribal communities, the agency's consumer education activities related to these scams, efforts to collaborate with Tribes to prevent scams or pursue scammers, enforcement actions taken by the FTC, and recommendations for legislation to prevent these scams;
Update its website, within six months of submitting the report, to include information for consumers and businesses on identifying and avoiding scams targeted at Tribes or Tribal members.
Luján also voted to pass the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, which builds on his Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act that was passed into law in 2016 as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. Additionally, Luján voted to pass the FEMA Assistance Relief Act, which would increase the federal cost-share of emergency assistance to 100% to alleviate the financial pressure that state and Tribal governments are facing. Previously, Luján and the New Mexico delegation introduced the Tribal COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Cost Share Relief Act to raise the federal cost-share for Tribes to 100%.

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