Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020
PL 116-287 (H.R.6435), enacted 01/05/2021

[116th Congress Public Law 287]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 134 STAT. 4882]]

Public Law 116-287
116th Congress

                                 An Act


 
   To direct the Federal Trade Commission to develop and disseminate 
information to the public about scams related to COVID-19, and for other 
            purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 5, 2021 -  [H.R. 6435]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Combating 
Pandemic Scams Act of 2020. 15 USC 58 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 
2020''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 15 USC 52 note.>>  INFORMATION ABOUT SCAMS RELATED 
                    TO COVID-19.

    (a) Dissemination of Information.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  In general.--As expeditiously 
        as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Commission, in consultation with the Attorney General, the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Postmaster General, 
        the Chief Postal Inspector, and the Internet Crime Complaint 
        Center, shall develop and disseminate information to the public 
        about scams related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
            (2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Commission shall--
                    (A) include--
                          (i) information regarding mail, telemarketing, 
                      and internet fraud and illegal robocalls related 
                      to COVID-19 that identifies the most common scams; 
                      and
                          (ii) information regarding where and how to 
                      report instances of scams related to COVID-19, 
                      including instructions on how to file a complaint 
                      with the appropriate law enforcement agency;
                    (B) disseminate information under such paragraph in 
                a manner that prioritizes, and that is easily accessible 
                by and user-friendly to, senior citizens and people with 
                infirmities and disabilities;
                    (C) <<NOTE: Web posting.>>  disseminate information 
                under such paragraph on an internet website of the 
                Commission that serves as a source of information for 
                the public about scams related to COVID-19; and
                    (D) regularly update the information developed and 
                disseminated under such paragraph to keep pace with the 
                changing nature of scams related to COVID-19.

    (b) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  Database.--As expeditiously as possible 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, in 
consultation with State law enforcement agencies, the Director of the 
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Attorney General, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other relevant Federal

[[Page 134 STAT. 4883]]

officials, establish a comprehensive national database, either within or 
separate from the Consumer Sentinel Network, that tracks instances of 
scams related to COVID-19.

    (c) Commission Defined.--In this section, the term ``Commission'' 
means the Federal Trade Commission.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with 
the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

    Approved January 5, 2021.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 6435:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116-591 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
            Nov. 17, considered and passed House.
            Dec. 17, considered and passed Senate.

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