🔎 Following the Money

Last year, a 69-year-old Des Moines retiree thought he found a friend online. One month later, $164,000 of his life savings was gone. He’d fallen victim to a “pig butchering” scam — a sophisticated form of fraud that builds trust over time, only to drain victims’ accounts once scammers gain access. What’s new : Sheriffs across Iowa have called me about cases like this, which is why this week I brought together Main Street business partners, state investigators, and tech partners like Google. Our goal was simple: compare what they’re seeing on the ground and identify gaps we must close to stop these criminals. What I heard was clear : Local law enforcement is trying to fight 21st-century crime with tools built for a different era. We’re leading the charge to fix that. ⬇️ The solution : We’re advancing two bills in Congress — the GUARD and the TRAPS Acts — to give law enforcement the modern tools and coordination needed to dismantle these scam networks. Together, our bills will: 🔎 Expand tracing tools so investigators can follow stolen money 🤝 Strengthen coordination between banks, tech platforms, and law enforcement 🛡️ Increase protections for seniors, families, and small businesses Bottom Line: Iowa seniors worked too hard to lose a lifetime of savings to criminals hiding behind a screen. We’re delivering real solutions to stop these scams and protect Iowa families.