Three Iowans, including a convenience clerk in Clinton, have been recognized with the 2026 Consumer Protection Hero Award by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.
“Our team at the Attorney General’s Office is always hard at work to stop the scam and protect Iowans,” Ms. Bird said in presenting the awards during a news conference Wednesday, April 8.
“But we can’t do it alone. Today we thank three heroes who have gone above and beyond to save someone from being scammed. They saw something and said something – and I, along with the people they saved and their families, am very grateful for their courage. They are truly heroes,” she said.
The 2026 Consumer Protection Hero winners are:
- Officer Andrew Faulkner, Clive Police Department, who stopped an Iowan from continuing in a scam, then helped him in the days following to recover some of his money back.
- Drew Hanlon, Elkhart, who realized his friend was being lured into a lottery scam, intervened, and then called the attorney general’s office.
- Tammy VanDeWoestyne, Clinton, who has stopped multiple Iowans from being scammed in her capacity working at a convenience store.
Al Perales, an investigator in the Attorney General’s Office for 20+ years, emphasized the importance of stepping up to protect others. “If it weren’t for the three Iowans who took action, we wouldn’t be here today,” he said. “Their example shows us that stopping scammers isn’t just the job of the Attorney General’s Office – it’s something we can all be a part of.”
If you or someone you know might be a victim of a scam, contact the Iowa AG office at 1-888-777-4590, [email protected], or through the website iowaattorneygeneral.gov.
