Valentine’s Day is a reminder to slow down and cherish the people who matter the most. For Kelly and me, that means carving out time amid six busy kids, long weeks in Washington, and life back home in Iowa to simply be together.
But caring for the people you love also means protecting them — especially from those who would exploit trust for profit.
Why it matters: Romance scams spike around Valentine’s Day. Criminals pose as love interests online, build emotional connections, and then manipulate victims into sending money or investing in fake opportunities.
The reality: In 2024 alone, Iowans lost $52 million across 15,000 reported scam cases. Nationwide, scammers steal more than $150 billion each year. That’s retirement savings, college funds, and hard-earned paychecks — gone.
That’s why I sat down with AARP Iowa and local law enforcement to break down how these scams work and how we stop them. ⬇️
Our bipartisan GUARD Act equips state and local law enforcement with 21st century tools to fight 21st century fraud:
✔️ Advanced technology to track down online scammers
✔️ Blockchain tracing tools to recover stolen funds
✔️ Stronger coordination to hold criminals accountable
Bottom Line: Scammers try to exploit love to steal savings. I’m working to give Iowa law enforcement the tools they need to stop fraudsters and protect your hard-earned savings.