City release
10/29/26
Iowa City staff have reported calls from individuals who say they received a telephone call from a City employee’s direct phone number, even though the employee did not make the call.
These reports suggest that City telephone numbers may be used in a practice known as “caller ID spoofing”, which allows callers to disguise their phone numbers to make calls appearing to come from a trusted source, such as a local government office.
Although City employees may contact residents by telephone for legitimate business, residents should be cautious about unexpected calls, particularly those requesting personal information or payment.
If you have questions about the legitimacy of a phone call representing the City of Iowa City, please contact the City’s Information Desk at 319-356-5000. Staff can assist in verifying whether the call came from a City department.
If you believe you are a victim of fraud, contact the Joint Emergency Communications Center at 319-356-6800 to report a crime.