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The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of an increase in scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claimed relatives had been arrested and needed bail money, then sent couriers to collect cash from victims' homes. A suspect was identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark-colored SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Authorities advise seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown persons claiming to represent law enforcement.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office warned of a "grandparent scam" targeting senior citizens in north Iowa, where scammers called victims claiming a relative had been arrested and needed cash for bail, then sent a courier to collect money from victims' homes. Authorities identified a suspect—a well-dressed Black man driving a black or dark-colored 4-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, potentially accompanied by a woman—and urged seniors never to give cash or personal information to unknown persons and to report such contacts to law enforcement.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in "grandparent scams" targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash payment delivered by a courier to the victim's home. Law enforcement identified a suspect as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark four-door SUV with possible Minnesota plates, and advised seniors to hang up, verify information independently, and report suspicious calls to local police. The FTC recommends protecting yourself by remembering that legitimate businesses don't demand immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards, law enforcement won't threaten arrest over the phone, and government agencies won't solicit sensitive information through unsolicite

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office reported an increase in grandparent scams targeting senior citizens in North Iowa, where callers falsely claim a relative has been arrested and demand cash for bail. Victims were duped into handing over cash to couriers who arrived at their homes, with suspects identified as a well-dressed Black male driving a dark SUV with possible Minnesota plates, sometimes accompanied by an unknown female. Law enforcement advises seniors never to provide personal information or cash to unknown callers and to report such incidents immediately.

Jill Gogel, vice president of fraud services at Dupaco Community Credit Union in Iowa, has implemented a comprehensive fraud prevention program that requires all employees to receive annual training on spotting suspicious transactions and unusual withdrawal patterns among the credit union's 170,000 members. Since launching the initiative 10 years ago, Dupaco has increased its fraud prevention from $300,000 to an estimated $10 million in blocked losses annually, using proactive measures such as employee communication, customer outreach, and coordination with local law enforcement. The credit union's approach is being highlighted as a model that larger banking institutions should adopt, particularly given that victims over 60 lose $28.3 billion

During mid-September 2024, scammers conducted a coordinated grandparent scam targeting seniors across central Iowa, from Des Moines to Iowa City, resulting in significant financial losses. The scheme involved callers impersonating grandchildren claiming to be in auto accidents with injuries to pregnant women, then transferring calls to fake attorneys demanding bond money ranging from $6,000 to $40,000, which couriers collected in cash within hours of victims withdrawing funds from banks.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety warned of an emerging trend in which scammers are demanding gold bars, coins, and bullion as payment instead of traditional methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. Common scam types—including government impersonation, tech support, and romance scams—have shifted to this new payment method, with one central Iowa resident losing $305,000 in gold and silver to a fake Microsoft representative in June 2024, and the FBI reporting $55 million in precious metals losses nationwide during the second half of 2023.

In 2023, Iowa residents lost nearly $60 million to online scams, with seniors particularly vulnerable due to their established resources and willingness to help others. The FBI identifies common warning signs including unsolicited contact, emotionally manipulative tactics, and artificial urgency, and recommends pausing before acting and reporting suspicious activity to prevent further victimization.

In 2023, Iowa residents lost $42.6 million to various scams, with romance scams alone accounting for over $4 million in losses and representing nearly 30% of senior financial exploitation reports filed with the Iowa Insurance Division. Common scams affecting Iowans include identity theft, investment fraud, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and compromised business email schemes. The FBI's "Take A Beat" initiative recommends protecting against scams by being cautious of unsolicited contact, verifying senders, enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding sharing personal information, being wary of cryptocurrency or gift card payment requests, and reporting suspected fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center

Between September 10-18, criminals conducted a coordinated grandparent scam targeting seniors across central Iowa, resulting in significant losses. Scammers posed as grandchildren claiming to be in accidents involving pregnant women, then transferred calls to fake attorneys demanding bond money ranging from $6,000 to $40,000, with couriers collecting the cash within hours of withdrawal. Law enforcement agencies across the region documented multiple cases following this pattern, though specific total loss figures were not provided.

William Jack Berg, a 52-year-old from Waukee, Iowa, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for defrauding approximately 17 victims over eight years by posing as a financial advisor and convincing them to invest in two companies he created and controlled (W. Holdings of Iowa and Excel Performance Management), using fabricated investment documents and statements. Berg used the victims' money for personal expenses and attempted to destroy evidence after learning of his federal indictment; he was ordered to pay over $1.6 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

This educational piece highlights common scams targeting individuals in 2024, including the grandparent scam, romance scam, and investment or advance fee scams. Blackhawk Bank & Trust in the Quad Cities region provides guidance on recognizing and avoiding these fraud schemes as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month awareness efforts.

This article does not involve elder fraud or elder abuse and therefore falls outside the scope of the Elderus database. The story concerns a murder suspect who evaded law enforcement and briefly dated an Iowa woman, who ultimately reported him to authorities after he confessed to killing his brother in Houston in 2022. While the case involves deception and potential danger, it is a criminal matter rather than a scam or fraud targeting elderly individuals.

The Rock Island County Sheriff's Office and Bettendorf Police Department warned the public of a phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement and request personal and financial information. Both departments emphasize they never call to request payments, and advise recipients to hang up immediately and contact local police if they receive such calls.

The Heritage Area Agency on Aging in Iowa is warning seniors about escalating scam threats, noting that people 60 and older lost $3.4 billion to online fraud in 2023. Common scams targeting seniors include fake delivery notifications via text (posing as UPS or mail carriers), impersonation of family members or romantic partners requesting money, and charity fraud, with scammers increasingly using AI voice technology to sound like loved ones. The agency recommends verifying suspicious requests with family members, being cautious of unsolicited requests for money or personal information, and contacting local law enforcement if targeted by scammers.

Two men from New York and Florida were arrested in March for serving as couriers in grandparent scams targeting seniors across multiple states, collecting approximately $230,000 from victims in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Iowa, and beyond. Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes allegedly received victim names and addresses from scam organizers and traveled to collect bail payments that victims believed were needed for arrested grandchildren, with one victim pair paying $18,000 before recognizing the scheme. Both men were released on unsecured bond with GPS monitoring while the investigation continues, with authorities believing numerous additional families across Rhode Island and Massachusetts were victimized.

**Article:** "Senior Citizens Targeted by Technology Scams: How to Identify and Protect Against Fraud" by Beth Swift, Washington Evening Journal Senior citizens are increasingly targeted by technology scams including impersonation fraud, prize/sweepstakes schemes, tech support scams, charity fraud, and IRS threats, with older adults disproportionately victimized because they typically have savings and good credit. The article identifies key warning signs—unsolicited contact, artificial urgency, requests for money or personal information, unrealistic offers, and poor communication quality—and advises seniors to verify caller identity independently, never share sensitive information, consult trusted contacts before responding to requests

Three Iowa volunteers with the Central Iowa Retired Senior Volunteer Program presented a fraud prevention program highlighting major scams targeting seniors, including a Fort Dodge victim who lost over $500,000 to scammers and a Marion woman who lost $30,000. Common schemes discussed included grandchild impersonation scams, fraudulent Medicare reimbursement demands, and affinity fraud targeting religious or ethnic groups, with the volunteers providing prevention strategies such as not answering unknown callers, verifying urgent requests by calling relatives directly, and avoiding upfront payments to strangers.

A senior couple in Winneshiek County, Iowa lost $15,000 to the "Grandparent Scam" on Tuesday after scammers posed as their grandchild, law enforcement, and attorneys, claiming the grandchild was jailed for texting while driving and needed bond money urgently. The scammers emphasized a gag order to prevent the victims from discussing the situation, then sent a courier to collect $15,000 in cash from the couple's home. The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office warns that while other residents reported the same scam and avoided losing money, they suspect additional unreported victims exist.

An elderly couple in Winneshiek County, Iowa lost $15,000 in a "grandparent scam" when fraudsters posing as a courier appeared at their door on Tuesday. The scam typically involves callers claiming a grandchild has been arrested for a vehicle accident and needs bail money urgently, with perpetrators often impersonating attorneys or the grandchild themselves and threatening victims with gag orders. The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office suspects additional unreported victims and urges anyone targeted by such scams to contact local law enforcement immediately.

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office in Iowa warned about "Grandparent Scams" where fraudsters posing as law enforcement contact elderly residents, claiming their grandchild is in jail, then another scammer poses as the grandchild requesting bond money. An elderly couple lost $15,000 in cash to this scam, and the sheriff suspects multiple unreported victims in the area.

Multiple sheriff's departments in north central Iowa are warning residents of a "grandparent scam" in which callers impersonate family members claiming to be arrested and needing bail money, resulting in victims losing tens of thousands of dollars. Scammers coach victims to lie to banks about withdrawal reasons and arrange for accomplices to collect the cash in person. Law enforcement urges residents to warn elderly and vulnerable family members about this predatory scheme.

**Grandparent Scam Warning - Iowa (January 3, 2025)** Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued a warning about a resurgence of grandparent scams targeting older Iowans, in which fraudsters impersonate grandchildren in distress (claiming accidents, hospitalization, or jail) and request money sent via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency. The scammers often use social media information to build credibility and may pose as supporting figures like attorneys or police officers, with money typically transferred abroad and difficult to recover. Authorities recommend verifying caller identity through trusted family contacts, resisting pressure to act quickly, and reporting suspicious calls

The Iowa Attorney General's Office and Department of Public Safety issued a warning about a resurgent wave of "grandparent scams" targeting older Iowans throughout the state. In these scams, criminals pose as grandchildren claiming to be in accidents, jailed, or stranded abroad, then request money that is wired abroad and rarely recovered. Authorities recommend verifying caller identity through independent contact with family members, resisting pressure to act quickly, and reporting suspicious calls to local law enforcement and the Iowa Attorney General's Office at 1.888.777.4590.

Iowa is experiencing a wave of "grandparent scams" targeting elderly residents, in which scammers impersonate grandchildren claiming to be in accidents, hospitalized, arrested, or stranded abroad to pressure grandparents into sending money. The scammers use social media information and may impersonate police, attorneys, or doctors to add credibility, with funds typically transferred abroad making them nearly impossible to trace. Iowa's Attorney General recommends victims hang up and verify claims with trusted family members, avoid acting quickly or in secret, and never wire money or provide banking information over the phone.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued a warning about a resurgence of "grandparent scams" targeting elderly Iowans, in which scammers impersonate grandchildren claiming emergencies (accidents, arrests, hospitalization, or being abroad) to pressure grandparents into sending money. The scammers often use information gleaned from social media and may impersonate police, attorneys, or doctors to add credibility, with funds typically transferred abroad making them nearly impossible to trace. To avoid victimization, the Attorney General's Office recommends hanging up and independently verifying claims with trusted family members, never sending money over the phone or by wire, and reporting suspected scams to local law

Romance scams can target seniors in rural areas and result in significant financial losses despite victims' age or location. Michelle Reinen, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture's Administrator of the Division for Trade and Consumer Protection, advises that these scams can be devastating and recommends having conversations with elderly relatives or friends who may be vulnerable to such schemes. Resources for consumer protection information are available at datcap.wi.gov.

I cannot summarize this content for the Elderus database, as this appears to be a news feed or bulletin board containing general community announcements (football coaching, Christmas events, library programs, and a senior living facility open house) rather than an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. Please provide an article relevant to elder fraud, scams, or abuse for summarization.

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Romance scams are growing on online dating and social media platforms, where fraudsters create fake identities to build romantic relationships with victims before requesting money or personal financial information. Red flags include profiles that seem "too perfect," attempts to move communication off-site quickly, moving the relationship forward rapidly, reluctance to meet in person, and hard luck stories preceding financial requests. The BBB recommends protecting yourself by never sending money or personal information, asking detailed questions about profile details, conducting reverse image searches, and stopping contact immediately if asked for financial or banking information.

I appreciate you providing this text, but this article does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database. The content covers Iowa State football, holiday events, and sports scores—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. I cannot provide a summary as it falls outside the scope of elder fraud research documentation. If you have an article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse, I'd be happy to summarize it for the database.

Scammers in Minnesota and Iowa are targeting elderly residents with a "bail scam" where they claim a family member has been arrested and demand immediate payment to secure their release. The scam escalates by claiming a gag order prevents victims from telling anyone and requesting in-person payment, making the money impossible to recover. Law enforcement urges residents to inform elderly family members and report any such calls.

In 2024, scams cost Iowa consumers over $50 million across nearly 14,000 reported fraud cases, with a median loss of $400 per victim. Seniors aged 80 and older, though representing a small number of victims, suffered the largest average losses at approximately $2,000 each, with investment schemes ($20 million) and romance scams ($8 million) accounting for the costliest fraud categories. The most frequently reported scams involved business/government impersonation, online shopping fraud, and prize/sweepstakes schemes.

**Grandparent scams** are increasing in prevalence, with criminals impersonating grandchildren in distress (accidents, jail, hospitalization) to pressure elderly victims into sending money immediately, often using social media research to make calls convincing. Recent Iowa cases resulted in losses of at least $10,000, with one arrest made in the Burt area in March 2025. Key protective measures include hanging up to verify information, contacting family members directly, resisting pressure to act quickly, and reporting suspicious calls to law enforcement immediately.

Iowa's Treasurer's Office warned residents about a phone spoofing scam where fraudsters impersonated treasury officers and solicited bank account numbers and personal information from victims. Treasurer Roby Smith emphasized that his office never calls to request such information and urged Iowans to report suspicious contacts immediately and avoid sharing personal data or sending money to unknown callers.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird warned residents in 2024 about the state's top 10 complaint categories, with the Consumer Protection Division receiving over 3,900 complaints across 30+ scam types. Notable 2024 trends included significant increases in social media hacking/account locking and imposter scams, particularly schemes directing victims to cryptocurrency ATMs to send money to fraudsters. The top complaints involved auto fraud (623), internet/social media issues (593), imposter scams (376), home improvement fraud (332), and personal goods/services complaints, with the Attorney General's office urging Iowans to verify sellers, avoid prepayment and cryptocurrency

I cannot provide a summary of this content as it is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This appears to be a directory or index page from the Iowa Department of Transportation listing news categories, road closures, construction projects, and administrative information. It falls outside the scope of the Elderus database, which focuses on elder fraud and abuse research.

The Iowa Department of Transportation warned residents about a text message scam claiming recipients have unpaid tolls or registration fees. The scam targets people who may have traveled on toll roads in other states (like Illinois) and creates urgency by threatening consequences, but the Iowa DOT does not collect tolls and never sends collection notices via text. Recipients are advised not to click links or share personal information if they receive these fraudulent messages.

This article collection presents educational resources on elder abuse prevention and protection across multiple topics: nutrition services as a preventive touchpoint for vulnerable seniors, a new Bill of Rights model for guardianship, practical scam prevention strategies, technology's role in reducing isolation (a risk factor for abuse), community-coordinated elder justice responses, faith community engagement on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and awareness about relationship investment scams using digital platforms. The materials emphasize that elder abuse prevention requires multi-sector approaches involving healthcare providers, legal advocates, community organizations, and faith leaders working together to protect older adults' rights and wellbeing.

Representative Zachary Nunn introduced the bipartisan GUARD Act, which would provide federal grant funding to local law enforcement agencies to investigate financial fraud against retirees, including tools for tracing blockchain technology and resources for specialized staff training. The legislation is prompted by significant elder fraud losses, including over $42.6 million in Iowa alone in 2023 and $3.4 billion nationally among those aged 60+ in that same year, with particular focus on "pig butchering" investment scams involving cryptocurrency. If passed, federal agencies would be required to report on fraud trends and enforcement efforts, and financial institutions would be encouraged to appoint liaisons to improve data sharing with law enforcement.

The bipartisan GUARD Act proposes to equip federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement with federal grant funding and advanced technological tools—including blockchain tracing capabilities—to investigate financial fraud schemes targeting elderly Americans. The legislation responds to a 46% surge in financial fraud complaints from people over 60 in 2024, which resulted in over $4.8 billion in losses, with particular concern about emerging scams like pig butchering and SMS phishing targeting toll road violations.

This article profiles Michael Wagler, the new Iowa state director for AARP, who brings over two decades of community development experience to the role. The article highlights AARP's 2025 priorities including financial security, noting that elderly Americans lose over $3 billion annually to fraud and scams, and details the "Stop the Scammers" tour—a partnership between AARP Iowa, the Iowa Attorney General's Office, and the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services to educate the public on avoiding fraud schemes. Research shows that people aware of fraud schemes are 80 percent less likely to become victims.

An Iowa AARP Fraud Watch Network educator warns that artificial intelligence has made scams significantly easier and cheaper to execute, with seniors disproportionately targeted due to perceived lower technology skills, social isolation, and accumulated wealth. In 2024, over $12.5 billion was lost to scams and fraudulent activities across the nation, with people aged 70 and older reporting the largest dollar losses per incident. Key prevention strategies include never trusting unsolicited messages, verifying information through independent trusted sources, avoiding opening attachments or links from unknown senders, and recognizing that scams typically follow a three-part pattern designed to manipulate emotions before requesting personal information.

I'm unable to summarize this article because the full content is not provided—only the headline and a paywall notice are visible. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need access to the complete article text describing the seminar details, fraud topics covered, date, location, and other relevant information about Roger Huinker's Iowa Fraud Fighters presentation.

The Linn County Treasurer's Office received multiple reports of phishing text messages impersonating the Iowa DMV, claiming recipients owe tolls or fees with threats of enforcement penalties. Recipients should not click links or share personal information, and should instead verify through official .gov websites, report the messages as spam, and delete them.

State Departments of Transportation in Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin issued warnings about phishing text scams impersonating state agencies and demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations, with threats of legal action. The scams have already targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York, and are becoming more sophisticated by using fear tactics to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. State agencies advise recipients to ignore urgency demands, avoid clicking links or sharing information, block senders, and report scams to the FTC or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Text scams impersonating law enforcement and government agencies are increasing in sophistication, with fraudsters sending threatening messages about unpaid traffic tickets or offering fake government grants to pressure victims into quick payments. Sheriff Tim Lane advises never clicking links in suspicious texts and verifying any claims directly with agencies using official phone numbers, emphasizing that real government agencies do not conduct business via unsolicited text messages. Victims should immediately contact their bank and file a police report if they fall prey to these scams.

I'm unable to provide a summary for this content. The text appears to be only a news section header and headline list without article details. To create a meaningful summary for the Elderus elder fraud database, I would need the full article text or transcript containing substantive information about a scam, fraud, or elder abuse incident. If you have a complete article about elder fraud or elder abuse, please share that and I'll provide a 2-3 sentence summary focusing on what happened, who was affected, the type of scam involved, and relevant outcomes.

Two men posing as Federal Trade Commission officials defrauded a 63-year-old Bettendorf resident of $35,000 by claiming their bank account was compromised. When the scammers returned demanding an additional $40,000, police were waiting and arrested 37-year-old Lijin Wang and 39-year-old Chen Xing on charges of conspiracy and felony theft of an elderly individual. This case reflects a broader trend of government impersonation scams targeting seniors, which contributed to over $3.4 billion in elder fraud losses reported to the FBI in 2023.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a resolution designating June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month to increase public awareness and prevention efforts. According to the resolution, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in community settings last year, with only one in 24 cases of elder abuse and one in 44 cases of financial exploitation being reported. Grassley will chair a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine how scammers target seniors and promote long-term protections for vulnerable older adults.