Fact Sheets

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Combats Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens

The White House

COMBATING CYBERCRIME AND FRAUD: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to combat cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes targeting American families, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

  • The Order directs relevant Administration officials to conduct a comprehensive review to determine what operational, technical, diplomatic, and regulatory tools could be improved to combat transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) engaged in cyber-enabled crime and predatory schemes.
  • The Order requires the submission of an action plan that identifies the TCOs responsible for scam centers and cybercrime and proposes solutions to prevent, disrupt, investigate, and dismantle their operations—including through the establishment of a dedicated operational cell within the National Coordination Center (NCC). 
  • The Order directs the Attorney General to prioritize prosecutions of cyber-enabled fraud and scam schemes, pursuing the most serious, provable offenses.
  • The Order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to partner with the NCC to provide training, technical assistance, and resilience building against cyber threats for State and local partners.
  • The Order directs the Attorney General to submit a recommendation regarding the establishment of a Victims Restoration Program to return seized or forfeited funds from fraudsters directly to victims.
  • The Order directs the Secretary of State to engage with foreign governments regarding demands to take enforcement action against TCOs on their soil and to impose consequences—including sanctions, visa restrictions, foreign assistance limits, and expulsion of complicit officials—on nations that tolerate these predatory schemes.

PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM PREDATORY SCHEMES. President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud and extortion.

  • Ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns, financial fraud, sextortion schemes, and impersonation scams are often coordinated campaigns run by sophisticated TCOs.
  • In many cases, foreign regimes provide willing or tacit state support to cybercrime and predatory schemes, creating a shadow economy fueled by stolen identities, coercion, forced labor, and human trafficking.
  • The most vulnerable among us—seniors, children, and low-income families—are disproportionately targeted, draining life savings, stealing the benefits of years of work, and destroying lives.
    • In 2024, American consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to cyber-enabled fraud, with seniors on average losing the most.
    • 73% of U.S. adults have experienced some kind of online scam or attack, and 87% of seniors view online scams and attacks as a major problem.
  • One in seven young people who experienced sextortion as a minor reported harming themselves in response to the abuse. Up until now, outdated frameworks, gaps in coordination, and lack of real consequences have allowed these networks to thrive.
  • With this Executive Order, President Trump has directed the creation of an Action Plan which will identify and eliminate barriers to dismantling the TCOs responsible for these crimes.  Further, the designation of the NCC as the lead national element for this effort will facilitate much needed coordination and strategic leadership.   

DELIVERING JUSTICE AND SECURITY FOR AMERICANS: President Trump is advancing cybersecurity for the safety of all Americans.

  • President Trump has made it clear that this Administration will do what it takes to make America cyber secure—including focusing relentlessly on technical and organizational solutions to improve the security and resilience of the nation’s information systems and networks.
  • In May 2025, President Trump signed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a historic and bipartisan new law, championed by First Lady Melania Trump, focused on protecting children and families from online extortion and exploitation through the non-consensual distribution of intimate images and deepfake abuse.
    • On March 3, 2025, Mrs. Trump convened a Roundtable on Online Protection and the TAKE IT DOWN Act with Members of Congress, survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery, and online-safety advocates to call for enhanced protections and congressional action.
  • In June 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity by focusing on critical protections against foreign cyber threats and enhancing secure technology practices.
  • In September 2025, the Trump Administration issued a Notice to help financial institutions detect and disrupt financially motivated sextortion.
  • President Trump has taken action to remove barriers to AI innovation, ensuring that our technology sector remains competitive at the cutting edge of new developments.

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