Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today warns Iowans to be on high alert for government imposter scams. This warning follows an instance last Thursday where a scammer attempted to defraud a woman by calling from what appeared to be the Iowa Attorney General’s office’s phone number.

Government imposter scams occur when a scammer pretends to be affiliated with a government agency to trick Iowans into sending money. Scammers often claim to be from agencies such as the Iowa Department of Revenue, Social Security Administration, or law enforcement.

“Scammers are master manipulators who will lie and scare people to get their way,” said Attorney General Bird. “I am warning Iowans to be on the lookout because these scammers will stop at nothing to steal from you, even if it means impersonating my office or law enforcement. If you or someone you know is suspicious of a call, please hang up and call my office at 888-777-4590.”

Last Thursday, the Iowa Attorney General’s office was alerted of a scammer who was spoofing the Iowa Attorney General office’s phone number to deceive people. A scammer, using an Iowa phone number, called a woman in Oregon and left a voicemail claiming to be a special agent with the Department of Justice. The concerned woman immediately forwarded a transcript of the voicemail to her husband. He returned the scammer’s call and asked for proof of identification or government affiliation. The scammer refused and instead insisted on calling back from a “main line” to prove they were a special agent. As the scammer called back from a different Iowa phone number, the husband found online that the number appearing on the caller ID was associated with the Iowa Attorney General’s office. The husband then confronted the scammer, but the scammer evaded questions and abruptly ended the call. The husband immediately reported the scam to the Iowa Attorney General’s office.

How to Spot a Government Imposter Scam:

• Unexpected Contact: Scammers call out of the blue and claim to be affiliated with a government agency.
• Threats: They use scare tactics, including threats of arrest, deportation, or fines.
• Demands for Immediate Payment: Scammers ask for money to solve a problem, such as paying taxes, fines, or fees. They also ask for the money to be sent via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency—all methods where it is near impossible to retrieve the stolen money.
• Flawed Emails or Letters: They send fake letters or emails that look like they are from a legitimate agency but contain spelling errors or mismatched logos.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Verify the Source: If suspicious of someone claiming to be from a government agency, hang up or ignore the message. Use a verified phone number to directly call the agency.
• Use Official Channels: Always check the official website of the government agency for communication, guidelines, or instructions.
• Be Skeptical of Threats: Government agencies and law enforcement will not make threats of immediate arrest or ask for payment over the phone.
• Protect Your Pocketbook: Never provide personal or financial information over the phone, text, or email.

If you or someone you know has been targeted by a government imposter scam, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 888-777-4590 or file a complaint online: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint.

The Henry County Supervisors meeting on Thursday saw multiple citizens voice their continued concerns over transparency in the county, specifically related to the alternative energy overlay ordinance.

During the public comment section, Melanie Patton once again urged the board to record the meetings, even mentioning that she would hold a bake sale to raise funds in order to get the technology required. She also asked if the meeting agendas for all the boards and commissions in the county could be better publicized. Supervisor White seemingly agreed, stating that he would like to see any public information in one central location on the county website.

Zach Griebahn was on the agenda today to discuss the ordinance process. Board chair Moeller informed him that the best time for the public’s questions to get answered is on an individual basis, while supervisor Lindeen said that the meetings are for the board. He took it a step further, informing the public that the board does not need to answer questions brought up at the time of the public comment section.

Griehbahn asked about the board work session on October 1^st over the alternative energy ordinance. According to Lindeen, the board does not have to come up with meeting dates and agendas during public meetings. Moeller added that he informed a supervisor of the work session via text.

Supervisor Lindeen admitted that this discussion of a wind farm is one of the top two largest projects proposed in his time on the board. The board is not rushing this process, but rather ensuring that they have the information needed to make a decision eventually. He is certain that the board is doing their due diligence over this matter.

Another point of discussion was the current unknowns. All three supervisors agreed that there are a lot of estimated projections regarding the revenue brought in through this project, but no hard figure. Lindeen believes that is what makes this difficult.

The Planning and Zoning Commission met one month ago for a public hearing over the ordinance. The public can get ahold of the members of the commission by asking the Planning and Zoning administrator, according to the board.

Board chair Greg Moeller reminded the public that there have been multiple public meetings, townhalls, and public hearings over this matter.

The Henry County Historic Preservation Commission met Wednesday October 16 at the Henry County Heritage Center.

Topics for discussion included the community’s effort to save the 1876 Oakland Mills bridge and an upcoming fundraising meeting on October 26 at the Heritage Center.  Ideas, concepts, and formatting for a Henry County Historic Adventure Guide were discussed.

The Commission signed a memo of understanding that will require the BNSF RR to write a history of railroads in Henry County to offset the future loss of the bridge over the Skunk River at Rome which is expected to be replaced in the near future.  The existing railroad bridge is eligible for placement on the Nation Register of Historic Places but is impractical to preserve it. The railroad history document will be complete with historical photographs and made available to the public.

The meeting was adjourned with the next meeting set for November 20 at the Henry County Courthouse.

Very high to extreme fire danger conditions are expected today. The previous Fire Weather Watch has been UPGRADED to a Red Flag Warning for portions of eastern Iowa from 11 AM to 7 PM today. Southerly winds gusting between 25 to 35 mph with very low relative humidity levels will combine with cured crops and drying vegetation to make for hazardous fire conditions

Any fires that start in these conditions will spread quickly. Avoid outdoor burning, do not carelessly discard cigarettes, be cautious with farm and outdoor equipment, and if a fire gets out of control, call for help immediately!

According to dispatch, there is a barn fully engulfed in Wayland at 1370 Ash Avenue as of 8:00am on Thursday, October 17th. Mt. Pleasant Fire and Olds Fire have been requested for mutual aid. Prelimanary reports suggest that a tractor caught fire inside of the barn, which is next to a home. There is a large amount of black smoke and a tanker truck is on the way. KILJ will update this situation as details are made known.

Please stay clear of the area and allow emergency crews to do their work.