Attorney General Brenna Bird and the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) are warning Iowans of a surge in “grandparent scams” targeting older residents across the state. These scams, first flagged by the Attorney General’s Office in 2008, exploit grandparents’ love and concern for their grandchildren to steal money. Scammers pose as a grandchild in distress, such as being in an accident, hospitalized, or jailed, and pressure victims to send money urgently. Some even send couriers to collect cash from victims’ homes. Criminals often gather personal details from social media to appear more convincing, sometimes teaming with accomplices who pose as attorneys, doctors, or police officers. Bird says, “Scamming someone out of money is evil enough, but manipulating someone’s love for their grandchild shows just how low scammers will go to steal from you. In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever to double-check when someone calls asking for money and to never send it over the phone.” Authorities recommend verifying calls, contacting family members, resisting pressure for secrecy, and reporting incidents to local law enforcement or the Attorney General’s Office at 1-888-777-4590.
