Trump, Congress and Law Enforcement Must Hold Criminals Accountable for Financial Fraud and Scams

COMMENTARY

Americans are getting phone calls every day from numbers that appear to be from local law enforcement agencies. This is often the start of a scam, a scam getting more prevalent and costly every day.

Typically, the caller pretends to be an actual law enforcement officer — a sheriff’s deputy, police officer or detective. The receiver of the call may recognize the law enforcement officer’s name from a previous encounter, news release or community meeting. These calls are often disguised to appear as though the number on your phone originated from the law enforcement agency itself — giving little reason to doubt that the call is legitimate. 

The caller will usually claim that there is an urgent threat to your bank account, and that you need to transfer money to a special government account right away before it is compromised. 

Additionally, the caller will often know basic facts about you, including where you live and where you bank, which makes the call even more convincing. While everyone is vulnerable to these scams, those perpetrating them often target the elderly. 

Scams like these are happening every day in our country, and it is time to fight back more aggressively. Whether it is fraudsters pretending to be government officials or scammers using online forums like Facebook Marketplace, law enforcement officials nationwide need help from Washington to protect Americans, identify these criminals and put them behind bars.

It is estimated that Americans lost at least $10 billion to scammers in 2023 — more than tenfold the roughly $1 billion reportedly lost just six years before. 

Worse still, there is absolutely no doubt among the law enforcement community that the problem is much worse than the numbers show.

Technological advances like deepfakes using artificial intelligence are also driving the ease and effectiveness of these schemes, and The Wall Street Journal has reported that popular online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace are being widely exploited by criminals. Other news outlets have reported on this too, but more awareness and action are needed.

We all have a role to play in taking on the scammers, and it starts with prevention. Sheriffs and other law enforcement officials need to continue to educate those we serve on these changing threats. The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and the FBI have published useful resources online. The FTC also runs a hotline, 877-FTC-HELP, that people should call if they suspect they are interacting with a scammer. 

Everyone should know some of the basic signs, such as someone threatening you with jail time, urging you to keep a secret from your family and friends, or pressuring you to act right away. 

President Donald Trump and many members of Congress ran for election last year with the intention of being tough on crime and supporting law enforcement. This message resonated with millions of Americans who witnessed crime going up in many parts of our nation. Now it’s time for Washington to deliver by helping state and local law enforcement protect Americans from scams and their growing financial toll.

Trump and Congress can start by bringing back some of the steps the DOJ took during his first term — a DOJ that invested significant resources to conduct large-scale investigations and prosecutions against hundreds of scammers. 

The Trump administration can also demand commonsense policies from the Federal Trade Commission to penalize criminal activity and hold those who perpetrate the crimes accountable. The FTC can also take a more active role in helping to educate consumers on how to identify and avoid scams.

Congress should also authorize a real-time nationwide scams claim records system that can be used by federal, state and local law enforcement across America whenever a scam is suspected. This would help federal, state and local law enforcement work together, connect the dots, find probable cause and pursue more charges in less time. 

While fraud schemes tend to be international, law enforcement resources in this country are overwhelmingly local. We need to share information and work together more effectively. Many sheriffs are charged with covering large, rural counties and cannot spare a deputy to focus on fraud cases full time. Those sheriffs and their communities need Washington’s support.

If we maintain the status quo, financial scams will become more common, sophisticated and lucrative.

In the meantime, if you or someone you know has fallen victim to a scammer, please report it to law enforcement immediately, even if you’re not completely sure of what is happening. Prompt law enforcement intervention can make a difference and may even result in the recovery of monies. It also gives us the best opportunity to identify these insidious perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Michael L. Chapman is the sheriff of Loudoun County, Virginia, and is on the executive committee of the National Sheriffs’ Association. The association can be found on X.