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Stop the Scammers

Posted on 10/05/23

Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of $228.3 million.

AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.

AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support Senate File 2334, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice.

Click here to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.

What is a Gift Card Scam?

Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.

The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.

What Can We Do?

Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.

Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.

Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director

See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:

This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the AARP Iowa page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.

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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
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				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
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        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
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        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 10/05/23 
							</div>
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
                <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" >
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
    </blockquote>
    
        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
</div></div>
            
        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 10/05/23 
							</div>
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
                <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" >
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
    </blockquote>
    
        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
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        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
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				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
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        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
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        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
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					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
                <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" >
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
    </blockquote>
    
        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
</div></div>
            
        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
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				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
    </blockquote>
    
        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
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        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
                <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" >
    <blockquote >
        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
    </blockquote>
    
        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
</div></div>
            
        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
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				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
                <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" >
    <blockquote >
        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
    </blockquote>
    
        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
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        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
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				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
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        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
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        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
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		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
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<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
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<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
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				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 10/05/23 
							</div>
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
                <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure"
     data-alignment="center">
    <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/12/da/4232fb2f4be29e8d8d805ca84aa0/gift-card-facts-graphic.png" alt="Gift Card Facts Graphic.png" width="840" height="350"/>
    
    
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</div>
            
        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
                <div class="Enhancement-item"><div class="FullQuote" >
    <blockquote >
        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
    </blockquote>
    
        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
</div></div>
            
        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Stop the Scammers</h1></header>	
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				Posted on 10/05/23 
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        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>Gift cards are popular and convenient… and not just for gifts. Con artists have latched onto gift cards as a quick form of payment in their scams. In an AARP survey, 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee, or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. Nationally, the nearly 65,000 consumers who filed complaints with the FTC about gift card payment scams in 2022 lost a total of <u>$228.3 million.</u><br><br><b>AARP Iowa is advocating for common sense legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</b><br><br>AARP is calling on state lawmakers to support <b>Senate File 2334</b>, a bill that would help protect Iowans from this nefarious practice. <br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://issuu.com/aarpiowa/docs/final_copy_of_fraud_storybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a></span></span> to read real stories from Iowans about the impact of gift card scams.<br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What is a Gift Card Scam?</h2></span></span></p><p>Gift card scams occur when a person is contacted about an urgent financial matter and told the quickest way to address the issue is to buy a gift card. Often scammers pull at people's heartstrings by suggesting a loved one is in trouble, and they are the only one who can help.<br><br>The person is then told to share the gift card numbers via phone call, e-mail, or by physically placing the cards at a drop point. Once the scammer receives the card numbers, they can quickly convert the card to cash or make other purchases and disappear. This money is usually untraceable and nearly impossible to recover.</p><div class="Enhancement" >
            
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        </div><p><br></p><p class="cms-textAlign-left"><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">What Can We Do?</h2></span></span></p><p>Money lost to gift card scams is often impossible to trace and recover, so consumer education and prevention are critical. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.</p><div class="Enhancement"  data-align-left>
            
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        Imposter scams have been the dominant scam in Iowa for nearly a decade, costing Iowans millions. Clearly, something needs to change. This simple notice will help people think twice before buying a gift card to pay someone.
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        <div class="FullQuote-attribution" 
            
            >Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director</div>
    
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        </div><p></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h3 class="inline-heading"><b><i>See How an Iowa Woman Stopped a Gift Card Scam in Progress:</i></b></h3></span></span><p><br><iframe width="840" height="450" src="https://players.brightcove.net/3772599298001/S1ZZK6MHBb_default/index.html?videoId=6324962393112" title="Brightcove player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></p></div>
    
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		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
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<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
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<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
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<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

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include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
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Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118