SCR120 - National Consumer Protection Week: Slam the Scam Day.

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 120 CHAPTER 21 Relative to consumer protection. [ Filed with Secretary of State April 07, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 120, Grayson. National Consumer Protection Week: Slam the Scam Day. This measure would proclaim March 1, 2026, to March 7, 2026, inclusive, as National Consumer Protection Week, and March 5, 2026, as Slam the Scam Day, and would encourage all Californians to engage in consumer education efforts and to utilize available resources to prevent fraud, protect personal information, and promote transparency and fairness in the marketplace. Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill Text WHEREAS, Consumer rights are fundamental to economic fairness, public trust, and individual dignity, and strong consumer protections are essential to a healthy and inclusive marketplace; and WHEREAS, California has long served as a national leader in advancing consumer protections, including safeguards for privacy, data security, financial transparency, and protection from fraud, deception, and unfair business practices; and WHEREAS, As commerce increasingly occurs through digital platforms, consumers face evolving risks related to data misuse, cybersecurity threats, misleading advertising, and financial scams, which underscores the importance of informed and proactive consumer protection efforts; and WHEREAS, Empowering consumers with clear, accurate, and accessible information enables individuals and families to make informed decisions and strengthens accountability across markets; and WHEREAS, National Consumer Protection Week provides an opportunity for state and local agencies, community organizations, and consumer advocates to collaborate in raising awareness, sharing resources, and promoting best practices that protect consumers’ financial well-being and privacy; and WHEREAS, Government impostor scams are among the most common fraud schemes targeting consumers in the United States, including scams impersonating the Social Security Administration, Medicare, the United States Postal Service, and the Internal Revenue Service; and WHEREAS, Scams cost consumers in the United States tens of billions of dollars annually and disproportionately harm older adults and other vulnerable populations; and WHEREAS, In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission reported at least $10,000,000,000 in consumer fraud losses, representing the highest level of reported losses to date; and WHEREAS, Approximately 8 percent of adults in the United States reported losing money to a scam, which reflects widespread exposure and significant underreporting of fraud incidents; and WHEREAS, Many reported scam losses involve amounts of $500 or less, while tens of thousands of victims experience losses exceeding $10,000, which results in severe financial and emotional harm; and WHEREAS, According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults reported larger median individual losses from government impostor scams than younger adults in 2023; and WHEREAS, Government impostor scams involve criminals contacting individuals and falsely claiming to resolve government-related problems or impersonating employees of government agencies, thereby defrauding consumers and eroding public trust in those institutions; and WHEREAS, Increased public awareness, education, and coordinated prevention efforts are critical to disrupting government impostor scams and protecting consumers from financial harm; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims March 1, 2026, to March 7, 2026, inclusive, as National Consumer Protection Week, and March 5, 2026, as Slam the Scam Day, and encourages all Californians to engage in consumer education efforts and to utilize available resources to prevent fraud, protect personal information, and promote transparency and fairness in the marketplace; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.