The 2022 AG Hero Award recipients have been honored throughout a ceremony on March 8, 2022
within the Iowa State Capitol Constructing. Pictured (L to R): Spencer Chapman, Legal professional Normal
Tom Miller, Mary Stogdill, and Tina Salisbury.
DES MOINES – In honor of Nationwide Client Safety Week, Iowa Legal professional Normal Tom Miller acknowledged 4 Iowans for his or her efforts to cease the abuse and fraud of their fellow group members through the workplace’s second Client Safety Hero ceremony at the moment within the Iowa Capitol Rotunda.
“There isn’t any extra opportune time than Nationwide Client Safety Week to honor Iowans who exemplify what it means to guard their fellow group members from fraud and scams,” Miller mentioned. “These heroes stepped up and ensured that others didn’t fall sufferer to pricey cons.”
The AG’s Client Safety Hero award was created to shine a highlight on the work on a regular basis residents do of their communities. Whether or not these people use their information of scams to coach the general public or acknowledge when others would be the goal for scams or monetary exploitation, they’re heroes within the eyes of the AG’s Client Safety Division.
Annually, the Client Safety Division marks Nationwide Client Safety Week, March 6 to March 12, 2022, by offering schooling and sources to help shoppers in avoiding scams and frauds. By honoring Iowans who’ve had a hand in stopping such cons, the workplace hopes to indicate that on a regular basis Iowans could make a long-lasting distinction for others.
Please be part of AG Miller in recognizing the next people as 2022 Client Safety Heroes:
Lisa Hoerschelmann, Clinton:
As a member companies consultant for 1St Gateway Credit score Union in Clinton, Lisa Hoerschelmann prides herself on making connections with prospects. These connections not solely assist her serve prospects but additionally permits her to know when one thing is amiss. Such was the case in August 2021, when Lisa seen {that a} buyer was performing out of types. When the girl requested to withdraw $8,500 from her account, Lisa requested a number of further questions, recognizing this was not a traditional exercise for the client. The lady whispered to Lisa that she was advised to not speak in regards to the state of affairs with anybody, even her household. The lady pointed to her pocket and advised Lisa she was nonetheless on the cellphone and that the one who had referred to as may proceed to listen to her conversations. The shopper mentioned she’d acquired a name from somebody in Texas claiming {that a} car she beforehand owned was concerned in drug dealing. To have her title faraway from the automotive title, she wanted to get money, go to Hy-Vee, and have cash despatched to the caller. Lisa advised the girl this was a rip-off and helped the girl to dam the quantity.
Mary Stogdill, Grand River:
Because the treasurer for the Grand River Group Heart, Mary Stogdill is dialed into the wants of her group. After turning into the goal of an tried tech help rip-off in October 2021, Mary realized that she may use her shut name as a studying expertise for her fellow group members. Mary detailed the tech help rip-off that focused her in an article for the native newspaper: After beginning her laptop on Oct. 15, Mary was instantly greeted with a flashing display and screeching sounds. She seen the phrase “MacAfee” in small letters within the nook and a message in massive letters: “YOU ARE BEING HACKED CALL THIS NUMER IMMEDIATELY.” Believing the quantity was for McAfee, the antivirus/identification safety service, Mary referred to as and was put in contact with a consultant named Elena who was in a position to cease the pc’s noise and flashing screens. Elena advised Mary that her laptop had been hacked and that these accountable have been going to take all of the funds from her financial institution accounts, together with these of the Group Heart, totaling $51,000. To avoid wasting her cash, she would want to switch funds to a hidden checking account. Mary referred to as her banker and inquired make such a switch. Fortunately, her banker, Spencer Chapman, realized this was a rip-off and helped Mary to shut her accounts and later reopen them. Along with sharing her story so publicly, Mary additionally contacted the Iowa Legal professional Normal’s workplace and organized for investigator Al Perales to go to Grand River for a presentation on scams and keep away from them.
Spencer Chapman, Truro:
On October 15, 2021, Spencer Chapman, a private banker with Nice Western Financial institution in Osceola, acquired a cellphone name from Mary Stogdill, the treasurer of the Grand River Group Heart. Mary requested to wire $51,000 from her and the group heart’s accounts. Recognizing this was not one thing Mary would usually do, Spencer knew to ask questions, together with what the aim of the switch was, did she know the beneficiary, and the way lengthy she’d recognized them. Pausing between every reply, Spencer realized Mary was merely parroting what she’d been advised by another person. Mary mentioned she wanted to speak to her boss and ended the decision. After ready a couple of minutes, Spencer referred to as Mary instantly and requested if she was being advised what to say. After answering the primary query once more, Spencer advised Mary she was being scammed. The scammer who acknowledged they have been a virus safety firm was wanting Mary to switch all funds to at least one account to be able to defend the funds from a scammer in China. They advised Mary they might wire the funds to an account in Thailand for defense. They then accessed Mary’s laptop remotely to observe her conversations. The scammer even went so far as telling Mary she was to not converse to anybody or have anybody else within the room along with her. Following the second dialog, Spencer requested Mary to return to the financial institution to shut all of the accounts in her title and open all new ones. He assisted her in turning off on-line banking and requested that she have her laptop cleaned and checked for viruses. As soon as the pc was clear, he assisted her in creating a brand new on-line banking log-in.
Tina Salisbury, Johnston:
A prison analyst with the Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Heart, Tina Salisbury has been an integral half in combatting the so-called Grandparent Rip-off in Iowa. In July 2020, Tina seen 14 studies of comparable grandparent scams through which couriers have been getting used to gather cash from victims – a brand new twist on the long-running rip-off. These circumstances resulted within the lack of $208,450 from Iowans. Trying into these studies, Tina reached out to surrounding states and located they’d additionally been focused by the identical group, and helped to establish one of many suspects, who was finally arrested in Ohio. Tina continued to analyze grandparent scams, and in January 2021, discovered that the identical group had come again by Iowa, leading to 16 studies and the lack of $300,000. Working with companies in surrounding states, she continued to gather data on the grandparent rip-off ringleaders. In Could 2021, the group got here by Iowa once more, with 14 studies made and $163,800 misplaced. This time, because of Tina’s exhausting work, dedication and persistence, members of the Dominican-based prison group have been recognized, and the group was dismantled.
In search of Future Client Safety Heroes
The Iowa Legal professional Normal’s Workplace is accepting nominations for the 2023 Client Safety Hero awards.
Nominations of those that act to guard their group members from abuse and fraud might be made on-line at www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection-hero-awards.
The 2023 Client Safety Hero recognition ceremony shall be held within the spring of 2023. Particulars of the ceremony shall be launched later.