Key Findings
Iowa has 80,567 FTC complaints from 33,094 unique scam numbers across 5 area codes. ScamVerify™ analysis reveals Iowa as a state where two of five area codes function as nationwide scam campaign launchpads: both 319 Cedar Rapids and 641 Central Iowa have just 37.5% in-state targeting, meaning nearly two-thirds of their scam calls reach people outside Iowa.
Debt reduction leads statewide at 9,764 complaints with an 84.2% robocall rate, the highest of any category. Impersonation follows at 8,719 (73.5% robocall) and medical at 8,178 (62.7%). The 563 Dubuque area code has an unusual impersonation profile: 2,167 complaints at 86.3% robocall rate, the highest impersonation automation of any Iowa code. Des Moines' 515 is the state's most balanced area code at 51.7% in-state with medical as its #1 category.
All 5 Iowa Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 319 | Cedar Rapids / Iowa City | 8,977 | 21,485 | 2.4 | 37.5% | #220 |
| 2 | 515 | Des Moines | 7,375 | 18,750 | 2.5 | 51.7% | #242 |
| 3 | 641 | Central Iowa | 5,909 | 14,069 | 2.4 | 37.5% | #278 |
| 4 | 712 | Western Iowa | 5,803 | 13,273 | 2.3 | 41.7% | #285 |
| 5 | 563 | Dubuque / Eastern Iowa | 5,030 | 12,990 | 2.6 | 50.5% | #289 |
| Total | 33,094 | 80,567 | 2.4 avg | 43.8% avg |
Iowa's statewide average of 43.8% in-state targeting is the lowest of any state in our full series. Not a single Iowa area code exceeds 52% in-state targeting. The entire state's area code infrastructure is being exploited for out-of-state campaigns.
The Lowest In-State Targeting State
Iowa's 43.8% average stands out dramatically against other states.
| State | In-State Avg | Campaign Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 43.8% | 319 (37.5%), 641 (37.5%), 712 (41.7%) |
| Nevada | 51.8% | 725 (38.2%) |
| Massachusetts | 56.1% | 339 (37.3%) |
| Alabama | 56.5% | 659 (36.4%) |
Iowa has three area codes below 42% in-state targeting, more than any other state. Cedar Rapids (319) and Central Iowa (641) share the exact same 37.5% rate, placing them alongside 518 Albany (36%) and 475 Connecticut overlay (38.5%) as primary nationwide spoofing tools.
Iowa's Scam Category Profile
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Debt reduction | 9,764 | 84.2% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 8,719 | 73.5% |
| 3 | Medical and prescriptions | 8,178 | 62.7% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 2,595 | 71.0% |
| 5 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 538 | 53.5% |
| 6 | Charities | 489 | 33.9% |
| 7 | Tech support | 437 | 51.5% |
| 8 | Vacation and timeshares | 381 | 32.0% |
Debt leads by 12% over impersonation (9,764 vs. 8,719). The 73.5% impersonation robocall rate is the highest of any state in this batch, indicating heavily automated impersonation campaigns. Charities at 489 have a low 33.9% robocall rate, meaning two-thirds use live operators.
Top 10 Most Reported Iowa Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (563) 334-2824 | 186 | Mixed (charities 6) |
| 2 | (641) 430-6946 | 90 | Medical (100%) |
| 3 | (712) 242-0813 | 89 | Robocaller (100%) |
| 4 | (515) 979-8288 | 82 | Medical (52, 63.4%) |
| 5 | (515) 316-3093 | 81 | Medical (47, 58.0%) |
| 6 | (641) 206-7937 | 74 | Mixed |
| 7 | (515) 357-5749 | 66 | Medical (100%) |
| 8 | (712) 214-7786 | 65 | Charities (64, 98.5%) |
| 9 | (319) 320-1113 | 64 | Robocaller (100%) |
| 10 | (515) 395-5352 | 62 | Robocaller (97%) |
(641) 430-6946 and (515) 357-5749 are dedicated medical scam lines at 100%. (712) 214-7786 is a dedicated charity scam line with 64 of 65 complaints (98.5%) for charities. (515) 228-5263 (not in top 10, 62 complaints) is a dedicated impersonation line at 100%.
Neighbor Spoofing Analysis
| Area Code | In-State % | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| 515 Des Moines | 51.7% | Most local (but still below 52%) |
| 563 Dubuque | 50.5% | Mid-range |
| 712 Western IA | 41.7% | Nationwide campaigns |
| 319 Cedar Rapids | 37.5% | Nationwide campaigns |
| 641 Central IA | 37.5% | Nationwide campaigns |
Every single Iowa area code has below-average in-state targeting. Even the "highest" code (Des Moines at 51.7%) is below the national norm of ~70%. Iowa is unique in having no local-targeting area code.
Iowa vs. Other States
| State | Area Codes | Complaints | In-State Avg | Unique Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 5 | 100,180 | 62.2% | #1 per capita robocalls |
| Oregon | 4 | 93,766 | 59.8% | Widest code gap (50 pts) |
| Iowa | 5 | 80,567 | 43.8% | Lowest in-state avg of any state |
| Arkansas | 3 | 78,072 | 64.7% | Medical dominant |
What Iowans Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. Iowa has 33,094 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the IA AG at iowaattorneygeneral.gov or 515-281-5926.
- Hang up on debt reduction robocalls. With 84.2% robocall rate, nearly 9 in 10 debt calls are pre-recorded and illegal.
- Iowa's area codes are heavily spoofed. At 43.8% statewide in-state targeting, most Iowa number scam calls reach out-of-state recipients. A 319 or 641 call you receive may originate from anywhere.
- MidAmerican Energy never threatens disconnection by phone. Verify at 1-888-427-5632.
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FAQ
Why does Iowa have the lowest in-state targeting of any state?
Iowa's 43.8% statewide average means more than half of all scam calls from Iowa numbers reach people outside the state. Three area codes (319, 641, 712) have 37-42% in-state targeting, functioning as nationwide automated campaign codes. Even Des Moines (515) only reaches 51.7%. Mid-market area codes like Iowa's offer deep VoIP number pools with less carrier scrutiny.
What types of scams are most common in Iowa?
Debt reduction leads at 9,764 complaints (84.2% robocall), followed by impersonation at 8,719 (73.5%) and medical at 8,178 (62.7%). The high impersonation robocall rate (73.5%) indicates heavily automated impersonation campaigns. Charities rank #6 at 489 with a dedicated charity scam number in the 712 area code at 98.5% concentration.
Which Iowa area code gets the most scam calls?
319 Cedar Rapids leads at 21,485 complaints (#220 nationally) with just 37.5% in-state targeting. 515 Des Moines follows at 18,750 (#242) with the state's highest in-state rate at 51.7%.
Are Iowa area codes used for nationwide scam campaigns?
Yes, extensively. Iowa has the lowest statewide in-state targeting (43.8%) of any state in our series. Three of five area codes have under 42% in-state targeting, placing them alongside known campaign codes like 518 Albany (36%) and 502 Louisville (46.7%).
How do I report a scam call in Iowa?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Iowa AG at iowaattorneygeneral.gov or 515-281-5926.
