U.S. House Passes Bipartisan GUARD Act to Combat Elder Financial Fraud and Crypto Scams

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act (H.R. 2978) on September 15, 2026. Co-led by Congressman Josh Gottheimer, the legislation aims to protect seniors and their families from financial fraud and scams, including "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scams. The act empowers state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to use federal grant funds for investigations, hire experts, and utilize blockchain-tracing tools to identify criminals and recover stolen money. The bill now moves to the Senate.