Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Iowa
I. Overview: Iowa’s Senior Population & Key Cities
As of 2024, Iowa has a population of approximately 3.2 million, with over 575,000 residents aged 65 and older , accounting for roughly 18% of the total population. This high proportion of seniors, many of whom live in small towns or rural areas, makes Iowa a frequent target for scammers who use Medicare fraud, romance scams, sweepstakes tricks, tech support hoaxes, and government impersonation.
Top cities where older adults frequently encounter fraud include:
- Des Moines (approx. 215,000 people)
- Cedar Rapids (approx. 140,000 people)
- Davenport (approx. 100,000 people)
Awareness and access to trustworthy reporting resources can stop scams before financial damage occurs. Most scam attempts begin with a phone call, email, or fake social media message.
II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Iowa’s Seniors
In 2024, Iowa had 803 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $34,991,114.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | Loss Amount |
| Investment | $10,361,761 |
| Tech Support | $3,019,088 |
| Government Impersonation | $822,716 |
| Romance | $5,192,901 |
III. Emergency & Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud & Financial Crimes
1. Des Moines Police Department – Financial Crimes
- Phone: (515) 283-4811 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.dsm.city
- Request assistance from the Financial Crimes or Fraud Division.
2. Cedar Rapids Police Department – Investigations
- Phone: (319) 286-5491 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.cedar-rapids.org
- Report scams, identity theft, or suspected elder abuse.
3. Davenport Police Department – Criminal Investigations
- Phone: (563) 326-7979 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.davenportiowa.com
- Contact the department to file reports for fraud or financial exploitation.
FBI & Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Omaha Field Office (serving Iowa)
- Phone: (402) 493-8688
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/omaha
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Use this site to report phishing, romance scams, fake tech support, and other digital fraud.
Iowa Attorney General – Elder Fraud & Consumer Protection
Office of the Iowa Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division
- Consumer Fraud Hotline: (888) 777-4590
- Website: www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov
- Offers scam alerts, complaint forms, and guidance on fraud affecting older Iowans.
Statewide Elder Services & Medicare Fraud Assistance
Iowa Adult Protective Services (APS)
- To report elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation:
APS Reporting Hotline: (800) 362-2178 - Website: dhs.iowa.gov
Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 351-4664
- Website: www.iowaaging.gov
- Helps seniors detect and report Medicare fraud, billing errors, and ID theft.
Iowa Department on Aging
- Info Line: (515) 725-3333
- Website: www.iowaaging.gov
- Offers legal help, scam prevention, caregiver resources, and public education for seniors.
Pause, Verify, Report.
- Iowa seniors lose millions of dollars every year to avoidable scams, often because they feel too embarrassed to report it.
- You are not alone. These official contacts are here to protect and support you.
- Visit our Education Center to see common scam examples, red flags to watch for, and how to file a report.
- Never give out personal info to someone who contacts you first. Stop, hang up, and talk to someone you trust.
Share Your Story
Have you or a loved one experienced a scam, or stopped one just in time? Your story could help protect someone else.
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