WASHINGTON —  The Department of Defense, and the Federal Trade Commission announced on Wednesday the development of a database to combat consumer financial frauds directed at military members, veterans, or their families. The Repeat Offenders Against Military (ROAM) Database will track completed enforcement actions against companies and individuals who repeatedly scam military personnel.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman joined officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the announcement

The announcement comes months after Attorney General Schneiderman secured a $3.5 million settlement against Rome Finance Co., Inc., an unlicensed lender. Rome solicited through storefronts, including “SmartBuy” in New York, that targeted servicemembers for sales and financing of high-priced electronics. The servicemembers were locked into Rome’s high interest revolving credit contracts, which resulted in the troops paying undisclosed fees and incurring massive debt. The attorney general’s investigation revealed that this network was targeting servicemembers not only in New York, but also in California, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and even overseas.

"The ROAM Database will allow us to act much more quickly to stop fraud against members of the military," said Schneiderman. "Had the ROAM Database existed during our investigation of SmartBuy, we likely could have shut them down more quickly and saved countless servicemembers thousands of dollars each. This database will be an important tool in our ongoing, comprehensive effort to crack down on those unscrupulous individuals who prey on the men and women who serve our country."