Last year, a central Iowa man lost $164,000 to an online scammer posing as a romantic partner. By the time local law enforcement could act, the money had vanished — and investigators lacked the tools needed to recover even a single dollar.
Unfortunately, his story is far from unique. Iowans lost $96 million to fraud last year, up $44 million from 2024, and that’s only counting the scams that were reported. Last week, I heard similar stories directly from scam survivors and their families about the devastating impact these crimes have on retirement savings, financial security, and peace of mind. ⬇️
What’s new: The day before, the House Financial Services Committee unanimously passed my GUARD Act — bipartisan legislation to give state and local law enforcement the same tracing tools and support used by federal investigators to track stolen funds and go after the criminals targeting Iowa families.
Why it matters: Right now, when a fraudster drains an Iowa retiree’s life savings through crypto scams, local investigators often hit a dead end the moment the money moves offshore. The GUARD Act closes that gap — expanding access to advanced tracing technology and federal grant funding so our sheriffs and investigators can follow the money, build strong cases, and put criminals behind bars instead of watching cases go cold.
Bottom Line: Our bill is ready for a vote in both chambers, and it’s supported by both parties. It’s clear the momentum is there — and I’m fighting to get it across the finish line so Iowa families have the protections they deserve.