Legislation News & Report (TM) 

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Managing America: Crime

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending March 23, 2006

H.R.740 To amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent caller ID spoofing, and for other purposes.

Similar to HR 251 this bill also targets ID spoofing that sends inaccurate caller ID information through the caller ID device. The bill goes further to prevent and mitigate identity theft with the effort since ID spoofing is usually the forerunner to fraud and other abuses. Often another persons’ ID is used and is used in particular when credit card verification and routing is reliant on caller ID info for security purposes. That practice is targeted specifically in the bill.

The bill is written to punish attempts at fraud and conspiracy as well as successes at the same level. Law enforcement is not prohibited from using these prohibited practices.

The fines rise to felony level if the violation is committed for commercial gain and can bring prison terms to five years. Misdemeanor penalties that might include practical jokes but do not appear to have any commercial gain would be include a fine and up to one year in jail.

Law enforcement at all levels can be exempt from the bill provisions.

The bill also adds to the list of unlawful activities money laundering through e-mail.

Sponsor:  Rep. Robert C. Scott (D-VA-3^rd)

Vote: Passed House 413 to 1 March 21, 2007 (RC 178)

Cost to the taxpayers: CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 740 would have no significant cost to the federal government.

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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## All Rights Reserved. © 2007 TheWeekInCongress.com.(TM)

No reproduction, language translation or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.(TM)