# Congress Passes the Romance Scam Prevention Act

_Dating apps will have to warn users when someone they talked to is banned for fraud. It is the first federal rule written specifically for the category._

Source: https://highintentmedia.com/news/congress-passes-romance-scam-prevention-act
Author: Bill Alena
Published: 2026-10-02T19:45:00+00:00
Last updated: 2026-10-02T20:37:59.878028+00:00
Category: Policy

## Summary

Dating apps will have to warn users when someone they messaged is banned for fraud. Platforms get a year to comply once it's signed.

## Key takeaways

- The Senate passed H.R. 2481 unanimously on September 23; it goes to the President.
- Users must be warned within 24 hours when a contact is banned for fraud.
- The FTC and state attorneys general enforce it.
- Platforms get one year after enactment to comply.

The Senate passed the Romance Scam Prevention Act unanimously on September 23. The House passed the bill, H.R. 2481, in June 2025, and the enrolled bill, dated September 29, now awaits President Trump's signature. It takes effect one year after enactment.

The law requires online dating services to notify every user who exchanged messages with a member later banned for fraud. The notice must go out within 24 hours of the ban, or within three days in extenuating circumstances. It must name the banned profile and the last time the two communicated, warn that the member may have attempted fraud, advise against sending money or financial information, and give fraud-prevention tips and a customer service contact. The Federal Trade Commission enforces it as an unfair or deceptive practice, state attorneys general can bring civil actions, and services that comply are shielded from related legal claims.

The House bill was led by Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), and backed by Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.). Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) carried the Senate companion. "Romance scams don't just steal people's savings," Pettersen said. "They exploit their trust and leave lasting emotional damage." Blackburn's office cited FTC figures putting reported U.S. romance scam losses at $1.3 billion in 2022.

Why it matters: This turns an existing trust and safety practice into a legal deadline. Most large apps already ban fraudsters. Few can reliably find every user a banned account messaged and send each one a specific, compliant warning within a day. Smaller operators and white-label platforms have a year to build that pipeline, and the FTC will be the one checking.

Sources: NewsChannel 9 on Senate passage · Rep. LaLota on House passage · Rep. Pettersen's statement · Bill summary of H.R. 2481

## Sources

- [NewsChannel 9 on Senate passage](https://newschannel9.com/news/local/senate-clears-blackburn-backed-bill-requiring-dating-app-fraud-alerts), Newschannel9
- [Rep. LaLota on House passage](https://lalota.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-lalota-backed-bill-requiring-dating-apps-warn-users-fraud), Lalota.House
- [Rep. Pettersen's statement](https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1939), Pettersen.House
- [Bill summary of H.R. 2481](https://www.quiverquant.com/bills/119/hr-2481), Quiverquant

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