2026 “Stop the Scammers” Fraud Protection and Education Campaign Kicks Off

State leaders discuss the top scams impacting Iowans in the digital age

The third annual Stop the Scammers statewide fraud education campaign kicked off today in West Des Moines.

The 20-stop campaign, hosted by the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services, in partnership with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and AARP Iowa, aims to educate Iowans about the types of scams impacting the state and how they can protect themselves, especially when it comes to online and cryptocurrency scams in the digital age.  

“Scammers stop at nothing to rip-off Iowans,” said Attorney General Brenna Bird. “We’ve seen an increase in scammers and fraudsters preying on people they know are vulnerable. They pretend to be someone they aren’t. Our office is here to teach Iowans how to protect themselves by spotting the red flags of a scam and we’re here to support victims. We take these offenses seriously and act quickly. If a suspicious number calls you and asks for money, hang up and contact my office at 1-888-777-4590. Remember, never send money to someone you met online or through a crypto ATM.” 

With the rise and continuing innovation in digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI), scammers are creating new sophisticated, clever, and emotional tactics to con Iowans out of their hard-earned money.  

“Education plays a critical role in preventing fraud,” said AARP Iowa State Director Michael Wagler. “By traveling to communities across Iowa and sharing specific examples of how these scammers operate, we aim to empower Iowans to recognize and avoid fraud before it happens.”

Over the course of the 2025 Stop the Scammers Tour, Iowans stepped forward at nearly every event to share their personal experiences with scammers in hopes of helping others from falling victim to fraud. Multiple attendees from events helped stop active scams, resulting in the arrest of fraudsters.

“Through this partnership, we were able to stop over $2.7 million from being sent and recovered nearly $270,000 in funds that were sent to scammers from Iowans coming forward at these events last year,”said Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. “We are also pleased that the legislature recently passed House File 2232, a bill that allows for life & annuity insurers to delay transactions when financial exploitation of an older Iowan is reasonably suspected. This is similar to the delay that is already allowed for securities-related transactions, which has saved Iowans millions of dollars and prevented significant financial and psychological harm.”

The entire DIFS team is excited to kick off the third year of this tour to help Iowans understand the resources at their disposal to shield their savings.

“Traveling across our state to meet with Iowans directly is an invaluable tool in our fight against financial exploitation,” said Iowa Superintendent of Banking James Johnson. “Technology moves fast, but there is no substitute for the personal connection and education we provide on this tour. By equipping citizens with the knowledge to spot a scam before it starts, we aren’t just protecting individual bank accounts – we are strengthening the security and resilience of our entire Iowa financial community.”

“Our Credit Unions are truly on the front line of defense against fraud,” said Superintendent of the Iowa Credit Union Division Katie Averill. “They are often the last person a member speaks with before a scammer convinces them to make a life-altering financial mistake. By noticing unusual patterns or simply asking a few questions, these credit union professionals could potentially prevent millions of dollars from falling into the hands of scammers every year.”

The Stop the Scammers roadshow kicked off in West Des Moines and will include 19 additional stops around the state over the next two months. A light meal will be served at each event.

Locations for the Stop the Scammer tour include Perry, Carroll, Sioux City, Spencer, Mason City, Altoona, Indianola, Atlantic, Council Bluffs, Coralville, Davenport, Dyersville, Waterloo, Ames, Oskaloosa, Riverside, Cedar Rapids, Newton, and Johnston.

Events are free to attend. To attend an event please RSVP at https://iowafraudfighters.gov/stop-the-scammers-event/ or call