Crime Prevention Tips

Crime Trends & How to Protect Yourself

Here are some recent trends we are seeing and information on how you can protect yourself.

IRS Phone Scams

Someone will call you claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. Callers will threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation and other things.

• Don’t talk to the caller or give out any information.
• Hang up immediately.
• Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, either online at IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting or by phone at 1-800- 366-4484.
• These same types of scams have been done with the caller saying they are from utility companies (i.e. Mid-American Energy, Cox Communications, etc.)

Bank Phone Scams

These scams are similar to IRS Phone Scams. Someone claiming to represent your bank will call you and claim your account has been compromised. They will ask for account or card information.

• Don’t talk to the caller or give out any information.
• Hang up immediately.
• Report to the call to your bank.

"Nigerian 419" or Lottery Scams

The scammer may contact you via phone, letter, email, text or through social networking sites. They will say you have won a large sum of money and must transfer funds to him/her to secure this prize.

• Don’t talk to the caller or give out any information.
• Never give out information to someone via social networking sites, even those you have spoken to for long periods of time.
• Check your bank accounts to ensure no fraudulent transactions have been made. If they have, report them to your bank and file a police report.

Arrest Warrant Scams

The scammer will contact you claiming to represent a law enforcement agency. They will claim you have a warrant out for your arrest and they are going to turn you in unless you transfer money to them.

• Don’t talk to the caller or give out any information.
• Hang up immediately.
• Check with your local law enforcement agency to determine whether there is a warrant out for your arrest.

Things to Remember

It is easier to hang up on (or disconnect from) the person and double check the validity of their request than it is to get your money back later.

Only make purchases on trusted sites and always safeguard your information.

If you think you may have been scammed, call us at (712) 328-5737, option 1 to file a report or speak with an officer.