Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is calling for a more coordinated federal response to cyber scams after a yearlong investigation by the congressional Joint Economic Committee found that government efforts remain divided among agencies.
The committee’s investigation examined the global scam industry, including overseas compounds that target Americans through online schemes. Its findings said the U.S. government does not maintain a unified accounting of money seized from those operations or of how much has been returned to victims.
Hassan, a ranking Democratic member of the committee, said the findings show that federal agencies, Congress and private companies need to strengthen their cooperation. The investigation also called for additional support for people who lose money in scams.
“Transnational criminal organizations run massive compounds that exploit U.S. technology, including AI, to carry out scams against Americans with devastating consequences,” Hassan said. “The scale of this exponentially growing challenge requires Congress, the Administration, and the private sector to all strengthen their efforts.”
Investigation focuses on fragmented efforts
The committee said partnerships between the government and private sector remain fragmented and voluntary. The findings were based in part on reporting from The Associated Press and the investigative program “Frontline,” which examined international scam networks and the use of technology in their operations.
The investigation identified several areas for further federal action:
- Improved coordination among federal agencies working to disrupt international scam networks.
- Better assistance for victims who lose money through cyber scams.
- More substantial participation by private technology and financial companies.
- A consistent accounting of funds seized from overseas scam compounds and money returned to victims.
The committee’s findings described scam compounds as large criminal operations that use U.S. technology to reach victims. Hassan said the networks’ use of artificial intelligence adds to the challenge facing law enforcement and other agencies.
Hassan seeks broader federal and private-sector role
The report places responsibility for addressing the scams across Congress, the administration and private companies rather than assigning the task to a single agency. Its recommendations include deeper collaboration across government and stronger engagement from companies whose platforms or services can be used in the schemes.
The investigation also focused on the treatment of victims after a scam occurs. The committee said the federal response should include support for people who have been defrauded, in addition to efforts aimed at identifying and disrupting the criminal organizations behind the schemes.
Hassan’s findings add cyber fraud to her congressional oversight work involving threats that use international networks and U.S. technology. The committee’s investigation produced recommendations for further federal coordination and private-sector involvement in confronting the scam industry.
