Scammers are stealing millions from Iowa retirees — and they’re getting more sophisticated every day.
In 2023 alone, over 13,000 Iowans reported that they were defrauded — that’s $42.6 million in hard-earned savings wiped out — and local law enforcement doesn’t have the tools or tech to track down the criminal networks targeting our seniors.
The good news: The tools we need to catch fraudsters exist at the federal level — and they work. In one case, the DOJ used blockchain tracing to freeze $225 million linked to a global scam operation targeting retirees.
Here’s the thing: D.C. shouldn’t keep the best tools locked up — that’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation to bring them home to Iowa.
The Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act:
✅ Gives state and local law enforcement access to cutting-edge fraud-tracking tools like blockchain tracing
✅ Lets federal law enforcement step in to support complex investigations at the local level
✅ Requires the Treasury to study elder fraud trends so we can stay ahead of scammers
Bottom Line: Seniors should feel safe online and in retirement — and criminal scammers should be held accountable. The GUARD Act is a step in the right direction to further protect Iowa retirees hard-earned money.