(This article is by By Sonya Sellmeyer, Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division) – This holiday season, Iowans will gather with loved ones making it a great time for discussions about financial fraud to help prevent those you care about from becoming victims.  The Iowa Insurance Division’s Iowa Fraud Fighters program focuses on fraud against elder Iowans, but younger Iowans are also falling victim to scams at a higher rate than ever before.  Fraud prevention firm SEON analyzed data collected in 2020 by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and found fraud complaints from consumers under the age of 20 had the largest increase in 2019 and 2020.

Sonya Sellmeyer

Victims under 20 had collective losses of approximately $3,000 per person.  The report also found that the older the victim, the more money they lost.  This finding may be due to older Americans having more assets than our younger consumers.  Fraudsters do not discriminate when it comes to age.

Consumers of all ages should know these tips to prevent being scammed:

• Don’t answer unknown phone calls, and be wary of any unsolicited offers.

• Be skeptical.  Don’t rely on caller identification, believe official-sounding titles, or company logos.

• Organizations such as the IRS, Social Security, and Medicare will not ask you for information they already have.

• Never give out your personal or financial information.

• Gift cards are for giving.  No legitimate business or government agency will ask for payment in gift cards.

• Never pay for a prize.

• Resist the urge to act secretly, quickly, or based on emotion.

• Review your monthly bank, credit card, and Medicare statements.

• Don’t click on links in emails or text messages, go directly to the sender’s website.

• Computer pop-up warnings regarding security or repair issues may be a scam.  Do not click on them.

• Double-check to make sure both the person selling the insurance or investment product and the product itself is properly licensed or registered by calling the Iowa Insurance Division at 877-955-1212.

• Have a trusted contact on all investment accounts.

What can you do if you suspect fraud: 

If a bank account or credit card is involved, notify the fraud department right away.  Don’t engage or pay the scammer any money or provide them any personal information.  Another good step to take is to freeze your credit.

If you suspect a problem with your computer, update your computer’s security software and run a scan or take the computer to a local repair center.

Report fraud to the appropriate authorities, and document what happened while it is still fresh in your mind.  Insurance and investment fraud should be reported to the Iowa Insurance Division at 877-955-1212.  Medicare scams may be reported to Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 800-351-4664.  Consumer scams may be reported to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office at 888-777-4590.  If money has been lost, file a report with local law enforcement too.

Discuss these fraud prevention tips with all your family members this holiday season.  If your loved ones need further guidance, the Iowa Insurance Division is here to help. Ensuring all Iowans aren’t alone when making decisions in this very serious area is one of the best gifts you can provide your loved ones this holiday season.

Davenport, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office reports a northeast Iowa man, 30-year-old Paul John McNicol, was sentenced on November 30, 2022, to 216 months (18-years) in prison, for receiving child pornography. McNicol, who is from LeClaire, was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Following his imprisonment, McNicol was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release.

Law enforcement identified McNicol after he uploaded sexually explicit images of minors to the social media program, KIK. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at McNicol’s residence and seized electronic devices, on which they located numerous images and videos depicting child pornography. McNicol was required to register as a sex offender following his 2014 Illinois convictions for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and Criminal Sexual Abuse.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report the arrest at around 2:15-a.m. today (Thursday), of a 67-year-old Gary Craig Brammer. The Creston man was taken into custody at his residence, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was cited at the scene and released on a Promise to Appear in Court.

(Radio Iowa) – The search of the body of a newborn child in Fort Dodge is bringing the spotlight back to Iowa’s Safe Haven law. Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says the law allows parents to drop off a baby shortly after it is born. “It releases them from any legal ramifications,” Meyer says, “If mom is having a hard time, if she’s overwhelmed, if she’s contemplating child abuse she can bring her baby to the safe haven and the baby will be cared for and she will not be charged with abandonment.” Representative Meyer says the time when a child can be taken to a safe haven drop point was just extended from 30 to 90 days this legislative session.

“There was a constituent concern on the west side of the state. We brought it forward, we discussed it, we want to do anything we can to protect babies and it truly was born out of a constituent concern that 30 days might not be long enough,” Meyer says. The law was created after a teenager in the town of Chelsea gave birth to a baby in 1999 and abandoned it in a snowbank. Fort Dodge police began searching for the body of a baby after getting information a female had given birth to a child at her home, the newborn died and the baby’s body was moved to another location. Meyer says the law gives a mother options if she can’t take care of the child.

“She doesn’t have anyone to reach out to — she might not have those connections or resources to reach out. This is something that will protect the child — again free from penalty of the law,” she says. The law allows a baby to be dropped off at a health facility – such as a hospital or health care facility — or be left with a first responder who responds to the 9-1-1 call. More than 50 babies have been turned over to the state since the Safe Haven law was instituted. Those babies are turned over to parents who adopt them.

(Radio Iowa) – Polk County’s auditor says he’ll issue a decision soon after hearing testimony over a challenge to the address Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver listed on his voter registration — a decision that could nullify Whitver’s election victory last month. Grimes resident Ann Gale filed the challenge.  “I believe that Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and independent voters deserve a senator who cares enough about the district to live in it,” Gale says.

Whitver ran in a newly-drawn district that includes a condo he owns in Grimes and he listed that address on his voter registration in August. Whitver also cancelled the homestead exemption on his home in Ankeny, which is not in the new senate district. Shayla McCormally, an attorney for Gale, says Whitver still lists his Ankeny address for his businesses and utility bills for the Grimes condo show little water was used there this fall.

“He did change the address on both his driver’s license and his voter registration solely for his election needs, but he didn’t have the intent to live or reside at the address provided,” McCormally said. Charlie Smithson, an attorney representing Whitver, says state law permits candidates to establish residency in a legislative district for an indefinite amount of time. “Or indeterminable length of time — a very permissive standard, frankly,” Smithson said. Smithson says smart phone tracking shows the condo was Whitver’s primary nighttime residence in the weeks leading up to the election.

“His spouse and three children still live in Ankeny. That’s an issue for Jack Whitver and his spouse,” Smithson said. “That is not an issue for the government to step in and say: ‘Why did you move and your wife and kids stay somewhere else?'” Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald says there have been very few challenges to someone’s voter registration in Iowa. “It’s kind of uncharted territory for me because in the 15 years I’ve been here, we’ve never had one,” Fitzgerald said, “so it’s going to take a little time to make sure we do everything right.”

Fitzgerald’s decision could be appealed to district court.

OTTUMWA – The Iowa Department of Corrections, Wednesday, said Owen Ray Spicer, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree and other charges in Wapello County, failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required yesterday (Tuesday).

Spicer is a 23-year-old white male, height 5’11”, and weighs 194 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on October 10, 2022. Persons with information on Spicer’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Owen Ray Spicer

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910

(Radio Iowa) – Gas prices in the state are following the national trend and continue to drop. Triple-A says the average price of a gallon of unleaded gas in Iowa is three-dollars, 21 cents, down about 14 cents compared to last week. That price is down 31 cents from one month ago. Davenport has the lowest average price of two-98 a gallon.

Triple-A says the price of oil has dropped on fears of an economic slowdown, and that has led to the drop in gas prices. The national average price of a gallon of gas is three-dollars, 54 cents, which is down 12 cents from last week.

(Casey, Iowa) – Two pickup trucks went up in smoke and flames Monday night in Casey, during an attempt to withdraw fuel from one of the vehicles. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports an individual was given consent by the owner of a 2011 GMC Yukon XL C1500 pickup, to take gasoline from that vehicle.

In the process, the vehicle caught fire. The flames spread to an adjacent 2018 Dodge RAM pickup.The incident took place in a parking lot near the Baker Street Apartments in the 900 block of Baker Street, at around 10:40-p.m.

Both vehicles were a total loss, with the damage estimated at $30,000 altogether. No one was injured, and no citations were issued. No names were released.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Two separate accidents in Guthrie County claimed the life of a Dallas Center man, and resulted in serious injuries to a woman from Guthrie Center. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 74-year-old Dennis Adrian Tatman, of Dallas Center, died during an accident that occurred at around 11-a.m. today (Wednesday), east of Panora.

A witness told a sheriff’s deputy that she was traveling eastbound on Highway 44 behind a 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup that was pulling a large utility trailer. The pickup was being driven by Dennis Tatman. The woman said she saw his vehicle quickly swerve into the south ditch and come to rest. Panora EMS administered life saving measures before Tatman was transported from the scene by Life Flight to Mercy in downtown Des Moines, where he died.

The pickup sustained an estimated $15,000 damage, and was declared a total loss.

Authorities say at around 12:19-p.m., Tuesday, a 2001 Chevy Blazer driven by 36-year-old Gwen Ellen Nickel, of Guthrie Center, was traveling west on 310th Street, when the SUV went out of control at the crest of a hill. The report said the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions.

The SUV entered the eastbound ditch and overturned, ejecting Nickel, who was not wearing a seat belt. She suffered suspected serious, incapacitating injuries, and was transported by Stuart EMS to Mercy Hospital.

The Blazer sustained $2,500 damage and was a total loss.