Announcing 2022 Iowa Fraud Fighters Forums

By Doug Ommen, Iowa Insurance Commissioner

We are excited to announce the Iowa Insurance Division’s upcoming Iowa Fraud Fighters forums across the state this summer.

Nearly 7 million Americans ages 60 and older fall victim to fraud each year. Con artists use elaborate schemes that prey on your good nature and trust. There is no shame in falling for their games. You can report fraud to us and help stop others, such as your friends and neighbors, from becoming victims.

Our Iowa Fraud Fighters team is here to help you and provide you with the resources to spot a scam and report it. The Iowa Fraud Fighters forums are in-person events that update you on the latest scams in Iowa. We share a meal and our stories so you can be better equipped to avoid and fight off fraudsters.

There are many complicated items you deal with in your daily life. They’re crucial to your wellbeing, and they’re also a prime method fraudsters use to target you. For example, insurance and investments can be complicated, which is why you need a trusted person to talk them over with.

During each Iowa Fraud Fighters forum, I cover many areas including our investor education mission and the importance of fraud prevention. I walk through the top financial scams including Ponzi, crypto, oil & gas, precious metals and more. I also will cover why scams work and signs of victimization before I provide self-defense tips, ways to assist loved ones and the systems in place for Elder Law Protection.

I’m glad to share that Al Perales, an investigator from the Iowa Attorney General’s office, will join each forum. Al has extensive knowledge on prevalent scams including cyber fraud, romance and grandparent scams, as well as social media schemes.

Our SHIIP and Senior Medicare Patrol Director, Kristin Griffith, will also walk through all the current ways scammers attempt to steal your Medicare card, identity and the government’s money.

Our Consumer Advocacy Officer Sonya Sellmeyer, who shares her consumer connections each month on a wide variety of important topics, will also be there. She will share her knowledge and help you gain the confidence to ward off scammers.

We’ll share short presentations and then answer any questions you have in a team panel. Each forum will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a complimentary lunch served at noon and paid for by fines and settlements levied against fraudsters.