New Nebraska Bills Aim to Curb Scam Losses

Lawmakers and law enforcement work to combat rising fraud targeting vulnerable residents

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:54pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled, torn financial document lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conveying the gritty aftermath of a financial scam.As sophisticated scams continue to target vulnerable Nebraskans, law enforcement and lawmakers work to combat the growing threat of fraud.Lincoln Today

Nebraskans have lost over $11 million to scammers since 2021, prompting a joint effort from the Lincoln Police Department and city officials to crack down on fraud. New bills in the state legislature, like LB 838 and LB 1082, aim to give banks more power to intervene in suspected fraud cases and address the growing problem of spoofed calls.

Why it matters

Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters exploiting vulnerable populations like recent widows and divorcees. This issue has led to an expansion of the Lincoln Police Department's technical investigations unit, which saw a nearly 70% increase in fraud cases in 2025. Lawmakers are working to provide a unified legal framework to combat these crimes across the state.

The details

LB 838, introduced by Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, would give banks more ability to intervene in cases of suspected fraud. LB 1082, from Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, addressed spoofed calls but did not advance out of committee this year. Lawmakers are waiting to see what federal legislation is passed regarding spoofed calls, believing a national framework would be more effective than a patchwork of state laws.

  • Since 2021, Lincolnites have lost over $11 million to scammers.
  • In 2025, the Lincoln Police Department's technical investigations unit investigated nearly 70% more fraud cases than in 2024.

The players

Richard Baier

A spokesperson who discussed the rise in sophisticated scams targeting vulnerable populations.

Sen. Mike Jacobson

The North Platte senator who introduced LB 838 to give banks more power to intervene in suspected fraud cases.

Sen. Tanya Storer

The Whitman senator who introduced LB 1082 to address spoofed calls, though the bill did not advance out of committee.

Chief Michon Morrow

The Lincoln Police Department chief who discussed the expansion of the department's technical investigations unit to focus on cryptocurrency fraud.

Lincoln Police Department

The law enforcement agency that has expanded its technical investigations unit to combat the rise in fraud cases.

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What they’re saying

“The fraudsters are becoming much better at their craft as well, and so we kind of have to stay out ahead of them.”

— Richard Baier

“So much of this is going on. It's really getting rampant. And it's generally scammers who just understand when somebody's vulnerable, here's a good way to go scam them for money.”

— Sen. Mike Jacobson, North Platte senator

“They're very elaborate and they're very structured. One of the challenges that we've come to find out during our research is that the fraudsters, for example, they'll go out and look at death certificates or divorce decrees. And they will wait six months and they will start to target the surviving spouse or the divorced spouse.”

— Richard Baier

“If this is too good to be true, it probably is. That still is a very good thing to keep in mind.”

— Sen. Mike Jacobson, North Platte senator

What’s next

Jacobson's bill LB 838 is on final reading, and the Unicameral has just four working days left in the session before adjourning on April 10.

The takeaway

The rise in sophisticated scams targeting vulnerable Nebraskans has prompted a multi-pronged response from law enforcement and lawmakers. New bills aim to empower banks and address spoofed calls, while the Lincoln Police Department has expanded its technical investigations unit to combat the growing threat of fraud, particularly involving cryptocurrency.