[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7660 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Coronavirus Scams Act of 
2020''.

SEC. 2. DOUBLING OF PENALTIES FOR CALLER ID SPOOFING IN CONNECTION WITH 
              COVID-19 SCAMS.

    (a) In General.--In the case of a person who violates section 
227(e) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)) with the 
intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value 
by making a covered communication to the called party, the following 
shall apply:
            (1) The maximum amount of the forfeiture penalty that may 
        be determined against such person for the violation under 
        paragraph (5)(A)(i) of such section shall be 2 times the 
        maximum amount that may be determined under such paragraph 
        without regard to this paragraph.
            (2) The maximum amount of the criminal fine that may be 
        imposed on such person for the violation under paragraph (5)(B) 
        of such section shall be 2 times the maximum amount that may be 
        imposed under such paragraph without regard to this paragraph.
            (3) The maximum length of the term of imprisonment that may 
        be imposed on such person for the violation under section 501 
        of such Act (47 U.S.C. 501) shall be 2 times the maximum length 
        of the term that may be imposed under such section without 
        regard to this paragraph.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall 
promulgate regulations to implement this section. Such regulations 
shall include criteria for determining whether a communication is a 
covered communication.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Called party.--The term ``called party'' means the 
        recipient of a telephone call or a text message (as the case 
        may be) in connection with which misleading or inaccurate 
        caller identification information is caused to be transmitted 
        in violation of section 227(e) of the Communications Act of 
        1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)).
            (2) Covered communication.--The term ``covered 
        communication'' means a communication (regardless of whether 
        the communication expressly refers to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) 
        that would lead a reasonable person to believe--
                    (A) that--
                            (i) a financial opportunity (including 
                        participation in a government assistance 
                        program or a government or private loan or 
                        insurance program) is or may be available to 
                        such person, the household of such person, or a 
                        member of such household, when such opportunity 
                        is not in fact so available; and
                            (ii) the availability of such opportunity 
                        is a result of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19; or
                    (B) that a product, service, benefit, or other 
                opportunity relating to testing or treatment for or 
                vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, or relating 
                to payment for such testing, treatment, or vaccination, 
                is or may be available to such person, the household of 
                such person, or a member of such household, when such 
                opportunity is not in fact so available.
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