Category: Police Tips

Tax-related scams occur all the time, but consumers are at a higher risk during tax season, says Tom Miller, Iowa’s attorney general. Don’t Respond to “Urgent” Calls Supposedly from IRS This scam has recently generated large volumes of complaints throughout Iowa and the nation.  In this scam, an IRS impersonator calls and demands immediate payment…

Prize, sweepstakes and international lottery scams This must be your lucky day!  Even though you didn’t enter any drawing, you’ve been notified that you won something big—perhaps cash or a prize.  All you have to do is pay some sort of processing or handling fee, advance taxes or entry fee, and it’s all yours. It’ll…

How to respond to unwanted or illegal prerecorded robocalls If you signed up for the “do not call list,” then why hasn’t it stopped those annoying pre-recorded calls?  It’s a question that many Iowans ask as they complain about robocalls. Robocalls are recorded voices that often utilize autodialers to make large batches of calls simultaneously. …

Don’t let them in your house. While there are legitimate salespeople that still make door-to-door visits, consumers should be very cautious by not allowing any unexpected guests into their home. If someone comes to your door that you do not know, you should ask who it is through a closed door. If it’s a solicitor…

While the word “delete” means “remove,” did you know that deleting files from your computer’s storage device doesn’t generally remove them? That’s important, because computer storage devices often store very sensitive data, such as passwords, financial information and personal files. If you’re selling, donating or disposing of a computer or data storage device, or you’re…

While the word “delete” means “remove,” did you know that deleting files from your computer’s storage device doesn’t generally remove them? That’s important, because computer storage devices often store very sensitive data, such as passwords, financial information and personal files. If you’re selling, donating or disposing of a computer or data storage device, or you’re…

If you’ve ever discovered that someone billed your credit card account for something that you didn’t order, the bad news is that you may have a little work to do to clear it up, but the good news is that at least you checked your monthly statement and you caught the problem. The Fair Credit…

The foundation to a good home repair or home improvement project is a good contractor. While it’s important to plan for the project, it’s just as important to find a reputable contractor. Before you search for a contractor, write down the work you want done.  Be as thorough as possible, so a contractor is clear…

The North Liberty Police Department, as part of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau program, conducted a seat-belt usage survey of motorists traveling within the city limits. Front seat occupants were observed using seat belts at a rate of 94.8 percent. In 2012, statewide use was reported to be 92.38 percent. Properly used seat belts are…

The stories are countless and convincing, but they all have something in common: a stranger or caller you think you know wants you to wire money through money transfer companies such as Western Union or MoneyGram.  These stories often end the same way: you lost the money you wired. Wiring money can be like leaving…