Scams & Fraud

Join us for a free online series to learn how to spot and stop scams, protect yourself online, and prevent elder financial exploitation.

AARP Iowa is backing two proposals to provide better protection against home-repair fraud.

Learn about ways to protect yourself and your loved ones at our free, two-part webinar.

Phishing scams aim to acquire valuable personal and financial data — such as your Social Security number, credit card details or passwords for online accounts — to steal your identity, your money or both. They are mostly associated with email but can come in many forms, including social media, pop-up ads, “vishing” (voice phishing by phone), “smishing” (phishing by text message) and “pharming” (drawing victims to bogus websites).

Learn about ways to avoid illegal robocalls and phone scams in this free, two-part webinar.

AARP Iowa is encouraging local groups to schedule Fraud Watch Network presentations in 2019.

Discard old confidential documents safely and securely at our FREE Shred Day in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines . Bring up to three boxes of documents (per household). Staples and paper clips are fine, but all binders need to be removed. No registration is needed.

The Social Security Administration is using new public service announcements to warn Americans about the increasing number of telephone scams and to advise what to do about them.

During tax-filing season, it pays to be aware of the ways that scammers and hackers may try to put your potential refund in their pocket.

One of the first cons to flourish on the internet, the “Nigerian prince” scam, also known as the “419” scam (named for the section of Nigeria’s criminal code dealing with fraud), has an ignominious history that long predates the digital age. Its roots go back to a notorious 19th-century swindle called the “Spanish Prisoner,” and the method of attack has progressed from letters and faxes to emails and social media.