The GUARD Act (Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act) gives state, local, and tribal police departments permission to use certain federal grant money to fight financial crimes targeting seniors and everyday people. Specifically, law enforcement can now use these grants to investigate elder financial fraud (when someone illegally takes money from seniors or disabled adults), "pig butchering" scams (where criminals gradually convince victims to invest money, usually in cryptocurrency, before disappearing with it), and general financial fraud like credit card theft or online deception.

The bill lets police departments use grant funds to hire specialized investigators and analysts, provide training on complex financial crimes and blockchain technology, buy software and tools for investigations, and designate someone to work as a liaison between police and banks to share information about fraud cases. Police departments that use these grants must report back to the federal government within a year, explaining how much money they spent and whether their efforts actually reduced fraud in their area.

The bill also requires the Treasury Department and other federal agencies to study the scope of scams in America—how many people fall victim each year, how much money is lost, and whether scams are connected to overseas criminals or organized crime. Additionally, federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI can now officially help state and local police use special tools to trace cryptocurrency and other digital assets used in fraud schemes. The overall goal is to give law enforcement better resources and coordination to catch financial criminals and protect vulnerable people from being scammed.