Grandmother's Life Savings Stolen by Scammers in Iowa Pension Scheme

Barbara Kearns, a grandmother from Mountain Home, was scammed out of thousands of dollars by scammers who targeted her Iowa teacher's pension and retirement account. The scammers initially contacted her, claiming that her initial withdrawal of over $30,000 was secure in the Federal Reserve in St. Louis. However, this turned out to be false, as the Federal Reserve does not accept individual deposits.

Kearns made another withdrawal of $38,000, which also fell victim to the scam. She confided in a roofer who came to estimate damages from a storm-damaged roof, and he advised her to contact law enforcement. Officer Scott Thrasher started an investigation, leading to the arrest of one courier and later another for theft.

The scammers were using 'money mules' to carry out their scheme, and Kearns had lost hope of recovering her money. However, Thrasher's team was able to make several arrests and recover some of the stolen funds. Kearns has relied on her family, friends, and church for support during this time.