AARP Iowa is partnering with the state attorney general's office and the Department of Insurance and Financial Services to launch an educational tour on how to recognize fraud – and what to do after becoming a victim.
Americans lose more than $28 billion a year to scammers, and Iowans are no exception. The officials will be on hand during the 2026 Stop the Scammers campaign in every corner of the state this month and next, and will be prepared to help Iowans know how to spot fraud and identify a scam.
AARP Iowa state director Michael Wagler says there's a lot of money at stake.
"Iowans reported $54 million in fraud losses in 2025, and this is according to the Federal Trade Commission," she said. "And the impact of fraud victims and their families can be financially and emotionally devastating, especially for older adults."
Stop the Scammers education events kicked off this week in West Des Moines and will pick up again mid-month in Carroll, Sioux City, Spencer and Mason City. Registration for events all over the state is available online.
Wagler cited research that shows that people are 80% less likely to become victims of fraud simply by being aware of it, which is at the heart of this educational campaign. It teaches people about methods of contact and common manipulation tactics.
"A contact that's out of the blue, that produces high emotion and that contains urgency," she said. "Now, if we can train our brains to recognize these red flags, we can also train our brains on how to respond."
That response includes contacting your bank, alerting a credit bureau so it can add a fraud alert, and changing your passwords. However, Wagler said the goal of the campaign is to help Iowans recognize fraud before it happens.