(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner and A-A-R-P State Director are holding stops across the state to try and educate residents about scams. A-A-R-P director, Brad Anderson, says the latest scam uses A-I to fool elderly Iowans. “A criminal impersonates a grandchild and uses artificial intelligence to impersonate that grandchild’s phone, or even the grandchild’s voice,” he explains, “and calls a well-intentioned grandparent and then scams that grandparent out of thousands of dollars.”

This is a new version of what are called imposter scams. “Imposter scams, according to the F-T-C had been the dominant scam in Iowa for nine years running. Nine years running, and that beats out credit-based scams, it beats out investor scams, online shopping scams,” Anderson says. Insurance Commissioner, Doug Ommen, says they hope to update Iowans on the issue. “Our effort in this tour is really to get out into communities to talk to people about what it is they can do to spot a scam. But also, once you’ve reported a scam, what you can expect from law enforcement in dealing with that,” Ommen says. He says his office has worked with securities broker dealers and investment advisors in our state for years to help with scams in these areas.

“Our laws allow those financial professionals to report financial exploitation. And that allows us then to make sure that individuals that are being targeted for a romance scam or a charity scam or a gift card scam or any of the number of scans that scammers tried to perpetrate on Iowans — we can we can intervene and make every effort to stop that.” He says their new Department of Insurance and Financial Services has people working with the banking industry and the credit union industry to bring them into this effort to protect older Iowans. Attorney General Brenna Bird says the scammers don;t care how old you are, they just want to get your money.

“We’ve seen people lose their life savings to a scam and that is absolutely heartbreaking. We want to do everything we can to try to help and we always try to get the money back if we possibly can,” Bird says. She says getting the money back is not easy, especially if the scam is run from a foreign country. “Many scammers are overseas. But there are also scammers right here in the state,” Bird says. “And those folks can be very dangerous when they come to pick up their ill gotten gains in person. It makes me very concerned. So we urge Iowans if you think there might be a scam, please call law enforcement, please call our office and we will do what we can to help.”

Bird says nationwide ten billion dollars was stolen in 2023 by scammers, and that’s just the scams that were reported. The three are calling their tour the “Stop the Scammer Roadshow” and held the first one in Des Moines Tuesday. They will also make stops in Ames, Carroll, Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Newton, Creston, Davenport, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Johnston, Marshalltown, Mason City, Mt. Pleasant, Ottumwa, Sioux City, and Waterloo.

Go to iowafraudfighters.gov to find out how you can sign up.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Red Oak was arrested Tuesday evening on an assault charge. According to the Red Oak Police Department, 27-year-old Tori Shanelle Bergerson, was arrested at around 6:25-p.m. in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Bergerson was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail. Red Oak Police were assisted in handling the incident by deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning (Feb. 20, 2024) during a regular session, at the courthouse, in Harlan. According to the meeting minutes provided by Auditor Mark Maxwell:

Ruthann Grimsley was present as a Compensation Board representative to represent the Shelby County Compensation Board for their recommendation to the County Supervisors. The Compensation Board recommended a 1% increase in salary for the Sherriff. A 4% raise plus $1500.00 for the Board of Supervisors Chairperson and 4% for the other Supervisors. It was recommended by the Compensation Board County Attorney, Treasurer, Recorder and Auditor be increased by 4%. Also an additional $2000 to attempt to equalize pay with like population sized counties in Iowa for the Recorder, Treasurer and Auditor. As in the past the employee longevity scale was approved for elected officials also. The Board approved the recommend compensation as presented.

Representatives from the Harlan, Elk Horn and Irwin library boards were present to thank the Supervisors for Shelby Counties contributions from the Rural Basic Fund. A minimum levy amount is required by Iowa Code. Amanda Brewer from the Harlan Library was present to inform the Board of Supervisors that foot traffic has increased over 30% in the last year and checkouts by a similar amount. New improvements to the exterior of the Harlan Library are also being considered. Paulette Madson of the Elk Horn Community Library was also present to report to the Supervisors. The Elk Horn Library holds many after school programs and reading programs for local children as well as adult activities that permit children to attend with an adult. Local organizations lend support to the Elk Horn Library also.

Luke Wolken, Shelby County Environmental Health Director, presented his quarterly department report to the Supervisors, highlighting that his office is currently very busy with passports. Wolken also reported that Shelby County is one of five counties statewide that is eligible for approximately $50,000.00 in well plugging, and well rehabilitation projects.

The Supervisors were then told by Auditor Maxwell that the annex building is in the process of being repaired from a water line burst on the interior of the building. A claim has been filed with the County insurer and repairs are being made. The air conditioning unit at the Courthouse is scheduled to be delivered in March and installed in the April/May time. The Auditor then asked the Supervisors to consider and recommended approval of the following resolution:

Resolution 2024-16; A Resolution to establish future Election Official Pay in Shelby County

Whereas the Shelby County Board of Supervisors is responsible for establishing the rate of compensation and compensation for Election officials nominated by the Shelby County auditor to perform election duties as required by Iowa Code. Whereas changes have not been made in election officials pay for a period of six years and achieving the expected election efficiencies expected of Shelby County election officials that the County has enjoyed in the past is desired to continue. Now be it resolved that the County Auditor will be authorized to pay election officials as certified by said officials by claim or through the County payroll, as applicable to comply with reporting regulations for payment of election officials as follows:

*Precinct officials $12.00/Hour

*Precinct Chairperson and Co Chairperson $14.00/Hour

*Election Night Runners $60.00 per election

Be it further resolved that the above listed positions including be paid mileage at the current mileage reimbursement rate for all travel incurred to perform the above listed services. The resolution passed as presented.

The following resolution was then considered: Resolution 2024-17; A Resolution to Permit Home Working Reimbursements for the Shelby County Supervisors

Whereas the Shelby County Supervisors are elected officials and mandated by Iowa Code to fulfill their duties as County Supervisors. Whereas evolving technology allows for home office and cell phone use to fulfill the duties of County Supervisor. Whereas County Supervisors are currently reimbursed for travel expenses and mileage reimbursement from the county for completing their obligations. Whereas County Supervisors have added personal expenses with cellphones and home office expenses including computers, internet connections and office supplies that Shelby County does not currently provide. Currently no reimbursement program exists for home office work in Shelby County. Therefore be it resolved by the Shelby County Board of Supervisors declare that with receipts presented to the County Auditor’s office by County Supervisors for home office supplies, internet connections, and cellphone billings may be reimbursed up to $100.00 a month from the General Fund if receipts for the expenses are submitted to the Shelby County Auditor’s office within 60 days of the dated expense. The Resolution passed as presented.

Discussion on the budget for fiscal year 2025 was then held. Exploring the many avenues to the budget completion were discussed. The next regular meeting will be used to set the required dates, notices and postings while staying in compliance were discussed. The Board will be advised of the options before any final dates are set.