Fraudulent Check Scam: March 2011

The Principal has recently learned of a fraudulent check scam where perpetrators are illegally using using the Principal Financial Group logo on correspondence as a return address and using checks drawn on Wells Fargo Bank Iowa, NA, 666 Walnut St., Des Moines, Iowa 50309 with routing number XXXXX0228 and account number XXXXX14752. Some checks are also attached to a letter instructing the recipient to send an email to utilitypayment@yahoo.com.

The checks that are enclosed with the correspondence were not issued by the Principal Financial Group and are fraudulent. Our company is in the process of obtaining more details regarding this scam, and we have reported this information to the Iowa Attorney General's Office.

If you think that you have been contacted by the perpetrator of this scam, we recommend that you:

• Avoid cashing or depositing these checks since they are fraudulent.
• Avoid responding to the "utilitypayment" email since it is likely a phishing scam to secure additional personal information.
• Report this situation to the Consumer Services Division of your local Attorney General's Office.