I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7660 

To double the penalties for causing the transmission of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information with the intent to defraud, cause 

harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value by making certain false 

communications relating to COVID–19, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 16, 2020 

Mr. STAUBER (for himself and Ms. CRAIG) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To double the penalties for causing the transmission of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information 

with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully 

obtain anything of value by making certain false communications relating to COVID–19, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Coronavirus 

5 Scams Act of 2020’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DOUBLING OF PENALTIES FOR CALLER ID SPOOF2 ING IN CONNECTION WITH COVID–19 SCAMS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a person who vio4 lates section 227(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 

5 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)) with the intent to defraud, cause harm, 

6 or wrongfully obtain anything of value by making a cov7 ered communication to the called party, the following shall 

8 apply: 

9 (1) The maximum amount of the forfeiture pen10 alty that may be determined against such person for 

11 the violation under paragraph (5)(A)(i) of such sec12 tion shall be 2 times the maximum amount that may 

13 be determined under such paragraph without regard 

14 to this paragraph. 

15 (2) The maximum amount of the criminal fine 

16 that may be imposed on such person for the viola17 tion under paragraph (5)(B) of such section shall be 

18 2 times the maximum amount that may be imposed 

19 under such paragraph without regard to this para20 graph. 

21 (3) The maximum length of the term of impris22 onment that may be imposed on such person for the 

23 violation under section 501 of such Act (47 U.S.C. 

24 501) shall be 2 times the maximum length of the 

25 term that may be imposed under such section with26 out regard to this paragraph. 


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1 (b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 60 days after the 

2 date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Commu3 nications Commission shall promulgate regulations to im4 plement this section. Such regulations shall include cri5 teria for determining whether a communication is a cov6 ered communication. 

7 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 (1) CALLED PARTY.—The term ‘‘called party’’ 

9 means the recipient of a telephone call or a text 

10 message (as the case may be) in connection with 

11 which misleading or inaccurate caller identification 

12 information is caused to be transmitted in violation 

13 of section 227(e) of the Communications Act of 

14 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)). 

15 (2) COVERED COMMUNICATION.—The term 

16 ‘‘covered communication’’ means a communication 

17 (regardless of whether the communication expressly 

18 refers to SARS–CoV–2 or COVID–19) that would 

19 lead a reasonable person to believe— 

20 (A) that— 

21 (i) a financial opportunity (including 

22 participation in a government assistance 

23 program or a government or private loan 

24 or insurance program) is or may be avail25 able to such person, the household of such 


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1 person, or a member of such household, 

2 when such opportunity is not in fact so 

3 available; and 

4 (ii) the availability of such oppor5 tunity is a result of SARS–CoV–2 or 

6 COVID–19; or 

7 (B) that a product, service, benefit, or 

8 other opportunity relating to testing or treat9 ment for or vaccination against SARS–CoV–2 

10 or COVID–19, or relating to payment for such 

11 testing, treatment, or vaccination, is or may be 

12 available to such person, the household of such 

13 person, or a member of such household, when 

14 such opportunity is not in fact so available. 

Æ 


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