By Heather Kriener, Financial Literacy Director for the Iowa Insurance Division

The first week of March marks National Consumer Protection Week. Here at the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services, we’re teaming up with other government and nonprofit partners to help Iowans spot, report, and recover from fraud.

In Iowa, we take pride in being “Iowa Nice.” Whether it’s waving at a passing car or holding the door for a stranger, being welcoming is in our DNA. Unfortunately, scammers are now using that kindness against us. They’re sliding into DMs, dating apps, and “wrong number” texts using fake profiles and even AI-generated voices to build trust.

While our instinct is to be polite and respond, the best defense is actually to ignore the stranger.

Why It Matters: The Numbers

Fraud is hitting our communities hard. According to the FTC, Iowans lost $52 million to fraud in 2024. Even more concerning, the Iowa Insurance Division saw a 102% increase in senior financial exploitation cases in 2025. Last year alone, these cases totaled nearly $19.4 million, with romance scams and government impersonation leading the pack.

How to Spot a Scam

Scammers change their tactics, but their “playbook” usually relies on four red flags:

• The Impersonator: They pretend to be from a group you trust, like the IRS, Social Security, or the local Sheriff. Pro tip: Don’t trust Caller ID. If you’re worried, hang up and call the agency’s official number yourself.
• The Hook: They’ll give you a “reason” to reply—either a scary problem (like an unpaid toll) or a too-good-to-be-true prize.
• The Pressure: They want you to act now. They don’t want you to have time to think or call a friend.
• The Payment: They’ll demand money in weird ways, like gift cards, crypto ATMs, or even physical gold and cash.

Stay Safe, Iowa

You can protect your hard-earned money by following a few simple rules:

1. Never give out personal info to someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
2. Pause. Take a breath and verify the story before acting.
3. Talk it out. Ask a family member or a trusted advisor for their “gut check” before sending any money.

Join Us on the Road

Let’s work together to keep our neighborhoods safe. If you want to learn more, we’re taking our “Stop the Scammers“ tour across the state again in 2026! We’ll be visiting 20 cities, kicking off April 2 in West Des Moines.

For more resources or to see when we’ll be in your town, visit us at IowaFraudFighters.gov.