To the editor:

Peer-to-peer services have grown in popularity in recent years. For consumers and many small businesses, cash has been replaced by the refrain of “I’ll Zelle/Venmo/CashApp you the money.”

With platforms like Zelle, transfers can be done without fees, and funds are immediately available. For small businesses, the convenience and cost can’t be beat.

Unfortunately, in Washington, DC, some senators have introduced legislation that would make these services a lot less convenient and, in some cases, more expensive. These Senators want to place burdensome new regulations on payment platforms that would make the peer-to-peer services responsible for the funds that criminals steal on their networks.

The proposed bill would force payment platforms to prepare to reimburse any transaction — even those willingly authorized by users. The bill’s supporters suggest it will help protect consumers from scams, but there are no protections in the legislation. Instead, it sends a message to criminals to keep on stealing, because now the government requires payment providers to pay for their crimes.

Only in Washington would someone think that the way to fight crime is to mandate new funding for criminal activity. It is a terrible idea, and it will have real consequences for Ohio small business owners that take peer-to-peer payments and banks and credit unions that offer the service.

Instead of funding the crooks, we should hold them accountable. Washington should be providing more money to law enforcement, so they can go after scammers and fraudsters and put an end to their tricks.

John R. Morrow,

Liverpool Township