Two years ago, a Wapello County farmer lost his entire life savings, more than $1 million, to sophisticated scammers operating overseas.
His story is devastating, but it’s far from an isolated incident in Iowa. In 2025, according to the FBI, Iowans lost $96 million to financial fraud, a more than 85 percent increase from the year before, and that’s only what was reported.
What’s new: Yesterday in Ottumwa, I joined Sheriff Phillips, Mayor Ben Foote, Iowa Bankers Association Chair Melissa Spurgin, and community leaders to demand anti-fraud action in Washington. ⬇️
How we got here: This fight started in a listening session in Iowa where a sheriff’s deputy told me his department needed better tools to track and trace scammers. I took that idea and wrote the GUARD Act to put those tools where they’re needed most. Last month, it passed the House overwhelmingly.
Why it matters: Iowa farmers and retirees spend their lives building their savings, only to have scammers overseas steal their hard-earned money out from under them. When they turn to local law enforcement for help, sheriffs and police departments often lack the tools to track that money once it leaves the state. The Senate needs to prioritize passing this bipartisan bill so Iowa law enforcement can track down these scammers and hold them accountable.
Bottom Line: This effort started with Iowa law enforcement asking for help protecting their community. Now we’re calling on the Senate to finish the job before another Iowan loses everything they’ve worked a lifetime to build.