Many Iowans find their savings coveted by scammers beyond the health, insurance and investment realms. The Iowa Attorney General’s office protects Iowans from consumer fraud and enforces laws that keep fraudulent sales practices from harming consumers.
| Craigslist and eBay Scams | Scam artists troll legitimate listings for properties and products and use them to post new, false listings with new contact information and a lower price. The scammers often reply with a poorly written email requesting a wire transfer or debit card for payment. |
| Charity Scams | Charity scammers may mislead donors and divert funds from charitable operations by using sound-alike names or claiming connections to well-known charities or causes. |
| Computer Tech Support Scams | Con artists pose as computer technical support employees, sometimes for Microsoft or Windows, calling to gain remote access to your computer to fix a virus or download software. They use the software to steal personal information or cause damage and may charge a fee for “fixing” or “protecting” your computer. |
| Grandparent Scams | These are used to coerce money from older Iowans by con artists who pretend to be a grandchild calling from a foreign country in desperate need of money to get out of jail or some other urgent trouble. They may try to keep you from calling other family members to confirm where your grandchildren are by saying they are too scared or embarrassed to tell their parents. |
| Home Repair Scams | When there has been a damaging weather event, such as a flood or tornado, scammers pretend to be contractors or home repair specialists while selling home evaluations and repairs in affected areas. Once payments have been made, they disappear without providing the repair services that were paid for. |
| Identity Theft | Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to open accounts, file taxes or make purchases. |
| IRS Scam Calls | False IRS calls are common and can target anyone. These robocalls may claim that the IRS is filing suit against you for owed taxes or threaten to send police to your residence if you don’t pay a specific amount using pre-paid cards. Do not call the number these scammers provide or pay the amount demanded – the IRS does not call people on the phone. |
| Lottery Scams | The only lottery legally authorized to operate in Iowa is the Iowa Lottery. International or out-of-state lottery ticket sales by mail, email or telephone are illegal and frequently fraudulent. |
| Mortgage Rescue Scams | Fraudsters may guarantee to get you a loan modification or prevent home foreclosure if you pay a fee or pay your mortgage payments to the scammer instead. Watch out if they suggest transferring your deed or title or tell you not to speak to your lender or an attorney. |
| Mortgage Rescue Scams | Fraudsters may guarantee to get you a loan modification or prevent home foreclosure if you pay a fee or pay your mortgage payments to the scammer instead. Watch out if they suggest transferring your deed or title or tell you not to speak to your lender or an attorney. |
| Sweepstakes Scams | Sweepstakes and contest scams occur when fraudsters charge an entry fee or seek advance payment from winners to collect a prize that ultimately will not be sent. If a check for the prize amount is sent, it often bounces. |
| Sweetheart Scams and Internet Dating | Con artists may use online dating to initiate an intimate and trusting relationship before making requests or demands for financial support. |
| Telemarketing Scams | Some scammers imitate legitimate telemarketers to pressure you into providing personal financial information or your Social Security number. |
| Work-at-Home Scams | Scam companies promise a big income and “opportunities” that will allow you to work from home if you buy their starter kits or pay for certifications. Many are pyramid schemes or simply continue pressuring you to buy more services. |
For more information go to www.iowafraudfighter.gov
