Des Moines — In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, the Iowa Insurance Division reminds Iowans that heightened isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic have created a perfect storm for senior financial exploitation.

“Social isolation is a leading factor contributing to the financial exploitation of older investors and quarantines to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus have taken social isolation to a new dimension for many seniors, making them more vulnerable to financial exploitation,” Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said.

While financial abuse can happen at any time, perpetrators often strike during times in a senior’s life when they may be more vulnerable, such as during a health crisis or after the death of a loved one. Scammers often gather personal details from obituaries and social media posts and use this information to target their victims. Some even will exploit trust within seniors’ social and support groups to become more involved in their lives.

What to Watch For:

Senior financial exploitation can be difficult to identify or recognize. Below are five examples of warning signs to watch for among the seniors in your lives:

• A new and overly protective friend or caregiver or surrendering control of finances to a new friend or partner.
• Fear or sudden change in feelings about somebody.
• A lack of knowledge about financial status or reluctance to discuss financial matters.
• Sudden or unexplained changes in spending habits, a will, trust, or beneficiary designations.
• Unexplained checks made out to cash, unexplained loans, or unexplained disappearance of assets (cash, valuables, securities, etc.). Also watch for suspicious signatures on the senior’s checks or other documents.

How You Can Help:

• Keep in touch with older family members, friends, and neighbors. Call or leave a note on their front door. If they have the technology, send them a text, email, Facetime or Skype. Contact is key to letting your loved ones know you are thinking of them.
• Let your older family members know that fraudsters and scammers have found ways to exploit the pandemic. Make them aware of the red flags of fraud, which remain consistent regardless of the fraud or scam.
• Iowans with suspicions of possible senior financial exploitation to contact the agency at iid.iowa.gov or 877-955-1212.

Financial and investment professionals also are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division to request a Senior$afe presentation on how to spot and report suspected senior financial exploitation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a couple of arrests over the weekend.

On Friday June 12th Deputies arrested 27-year-old Maxwell Tenesee Davies of Des Moines on a charge of Driving While Barred (Aggravated). Davies was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

On Saturday June 13th Sheriff’s Officials arrested 40-year-old Zachary James Watkins of Atlantic on a charge of Public Intoxication (Simple). Watkins was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

AMES, Iowa – June 15, 2020 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for a proposed replacement of the Iowa 175 bridge over Maple River, 1.1 miles west of the east junction with Iowa 141.

The project includes replacing the existing 240’ x 26’ steel beam bridge with a 299’ x 44’ pretensioned prestressed concrete beam bridge. New bridge approaches will be constructed, and new guardrails installed, and shoulders will be paved 20’ beyond the ends of the guardrails.

Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2022.

Through traffic on Iowa 175 would be detoured during construction using Monona County Roads E-34, L-32, and Iowa 141. For more information, see the website listed below.

For general information or to make a comment regarding the proposed bridge project, contact Shane Tymkowicz, P.E., assistant district engineer, Iowa DOT District 3 Office, 2800 Gordon Drive, Sioux City, Iowa 51102, phone 712-276-1451 or 800-284-4368, email shane.tymkowicz@iowadot.us.

Comments must be received by June 25, 2020 to be considered.

Visit the Iowa DOT’s project-related public involvement event website at www.iowadot.gov/pim for information about scheduled public meetings and hearings, or view and offer input on any DOT project using the new “Map Search” feature. If you would like to receive future email notifications, or submit a comment or question regarding this project, go to https://bit.ly/iowadot3324.

The Creston Police Department reports four arrests over the weekend.

On Friday at 10:43 a.m. Creston Police arrested 31-year-old Steven Behlers of Creston at his residence on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation. He was being held in the Union County Jail awaiting transport to Polk County for a warrant for Violation of Parole.

Also on Friday morning at 8:29 a.m. Creston Police arrested 47-year-old Shawn Connelly of Creston on a charge of Driving While Barred. She was released at the scene on a summons to appear.

On Saturday at 3:21 p.m. Officers arrested 48-year-old Brock Barrett of Creston at his residence on the charge of Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Blood/Air flow. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Also on Saturday at 8:55 p.m. Creston Police arrested Elizabeth Clayton of Lenox at the Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for Violation of Pre-Trial Release. She was held in the Adams County Jail on $10,000 bond.