SCAM Act

Coronavirus Scammers, Crooks, and Manipulators Act or the SCAM Act

This bill increases the maximum criminal penalties for mail fraud and wire fraud that occur in connection with the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) national emergency.

Additionally, the bill increases the maximum criminal penalties for trafficking in a counterfeit good that is advertised to treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7055 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7055

To provide for an increased fine and term of imprisonment for fraud in 
     connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 28, 2020

Mr. Meuser (for himself and Mr. Suozzi) introduced the following bill; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for an increased fine and term of imprisonment for fraud in 
     connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Coronavirus Scammers, Crooks, and 
Manipulators Act'' or the ``SCAM Act''.

SEC. 2. MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES.

    (a) Frauds and Swindles.--Section 1341 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after ``30 years, or both.'' the 
following: ``If the violation occurs in relation to, or involving any 
benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, 
or paid in connection with the emergency declared on March 13, 2020, by 
the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act relating to Coronavirus Disease 2019, such 
person shall be fined not more than $1,500,000 or imprisoned not more 
than 45 years, or both.''.
    (b) Fraud by Wire, Radio, or Television.--Section 1343 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after ``30 years, or 
both.'' the following: ``If the violation occurs in relation to, or 
involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, 
transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with the emergency 
declared on March 13, 2020, by the President under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to 
Coronavirus Disease 2019, such person shall be fined not more than 
$1,500,000 or imprisoned not more than 45 years, or both.''.

SEC. 3. COUNTERFEIT GOODS AND SERVICES.

    Section 2320(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) COVID-19.--Any person who commits an offense under 
        subsection (a) involving a counterfeit good, which is 
        advertised by the person as having the ability to treat, 
        prevent, or cure COVID-19, shall, in the case of an individual, 
        be fined not more than $2,500,000, or imprisoned not more than 
        45 years, or both, or in the case of a person other than an 
        individual, be fined $5,500,000.''.
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