But as the conversation goes on, that friendly stranger becomes demanding, asking for money or gift cards to be sent to them quickly.

That situation has the classic hallmarks of a scam.

Two state officials on the frontlines of combating scams offered this advice Wednesday to anyone receiving phone calls or emails that just don’t seem right: “double check, double check, double check.”

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen and Al Perales, an investigator in the office of Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, said independently checking out anything that sounds too good to be true can save a person from being scammed out of lots of money.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
State Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen, seen on a screen and in person, speaks during a Stop the Scam event Wednesday at Citizens Central in Fort Dodge.

“More often than not, these scams are devastating,” Perales said.

Ommen and Perales spoke to about 40 people during a Stop the Scammers presentation at Citizens Central, 617 Central Ave.

They talked about the various scams that law enforcement has identified and offered advice on how people can protect themselves from the crooks carrying out the scams. Throughout their noontime presentation, they repeated their advice to “double check, double check, double check.”

Ommen said scam are becoming more sophisticated and more prevalent.

“The digital age is introducing more risk to Iowans,” he said.

And while scams used to fit into easily described categories, many now combine elements of several types of ripoffs. Perales described this situation as a “buffet line” of scams.

“There are people who wake up every day to lie, cheat and steal and they’re focused on you,” Perales said.

Protecting yourself from scammers can be as simple as not answering phone calls from numbers you don’t recognize, according to Ommen.

He also recommended doing business locally, instead of with strangers online.

“Deal with people you know that you can speak to,” he said.

The state Insurance Division’s responsibilities include registering organizations that offer investments and providing investor education. As a result, the agency deals with investment scams.

“If you don’t understand an investment, my best advice to you is to avoid it,” he said.

Perales cautioned the attendees about bit coin machines, which look like ATMs.

“If anyone asks you to get money and put it in a bit coin machine, it’s a scam,” he said.

Tips to avoid falling victim to scams

1. If you don’t recognize the number, don’t answer the call.

2. Never share personal financial information.

3. Always resist pressure to act quickly and secretly.

4. Never pay for a prize.

5. Deal locally and face-to-face.

6. Take time to review your financial statements.

7. Double check, double check, double check

To report a scam

Call 515-654-1212 or 877-955-1212