WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA) has introduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on political fundraising scams. The Stop Scam PACs Act, co-led by Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), would empower the Federal Election Commission to take action against fraudsters who pose as political action committees (PACs) to cheat Americans.

“Americans who want to participate in our political process should be protected from con artists trying to take advantage of them,” said Porter, a longtime consumer protection advocate. “These scam PACs target older adults and veterans for campaign donations that actually go to lining their pockets. I’m proud to work across the aisle on this legislation that will protect Americans, regardless of party or ideology, from being cheated.”

Federal law enforcement announced in 2021 that reports of potentially fraudulent PACs are on the rise, and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) later that year asked Congress to take decisive action that would clarify the law so that the federal watchdog can effectively go after scammers. Porter first introduced the Stop Scam PACs Act in her previous term; today’s updated version reflects the FEC’s bipartisan legislative recommendations by taking the additional steps needed to close loopholes that cheaters use to skirt accountability.

With her background in consumer protection, Porter has worked to stop scammers throughout her time in Congress. She recently helped introduce legislation to crack down on robotexting, which costs Americans millions of dollars each year. She released a report documenting how predatory lenders repeatedly exploit vulnerable servicemembers, veterans, and military families with bad home loans. Porter has held a town hall that specifically focused on educating Americans to protect themselves from fraud.

###