Scam artists pretend to represent IRS

Scam artists are calling and pretending to be Internal Revenue Service agents to obtain personal financial information. They may seek the information by demanding money or saying a taxpayer is due to receive a refund. The callers may alter their caller identification to reflect an IRS number, and they use false names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers.

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by phone, email or social media, but instead by written notice. The IRS also never demands immediate payment and doesn’t require a specific type of payment, such as a prepaid debit card.

Residents can contact Department of the Treasury officials at 800-366-4484 or tigta.gov; file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftccomplaintassistant.gov; or call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

Feb. 19. Traffic: Officers make a traffic stop on a vehicle with suspended registration. The plates were taken and a citation issued at 10:10 a.m. in the area of Canyon Road and U.S. Highway 93.

Disturbance: A subject is making threats to harm others and was taken to a facility for evaluation at 11:49 p.m. in the 600 block of Adams Boulevard.

Thought for the day: Suspended plates will be confiscated and returned to the Department of Motor Vehicles per Nevada law.

Feb. 20. Family disturbance: There is a report of a neighbor hearing a door being kicked in and screaming from a female. The couple agree to stop arguing at 12:40 a.m. in the 1000 block of Nevada Way.

Overdose: Officers receive a report that a distraught juvenile may have taken too much medication. The subject was found and taken to a local hospital for treatment at 10:46 p.m. in the 800 block of Jeri Lane.

Thought for the day: Your life matters. We will work with family members to make sure you are able to find the help you need.

Feb. 21. Civil: There is a report that family members have thrown eggs at their house at 8:05 a.m. in the 1100 block of Grillo Way.

DUI: A car is reported being all over the road after it was involved in an accident. The subject was arrested at 9:51 a.m. in the area of Utah Street at Northridge Avenue.

Thought for the day: No matter how “fine” you think you are, bumper cars is not a game here.

Feb. 22. Suspicious: The caller reports his neighbor is out of town and he sees a flashlight inside the home. The homeowner was very surprised at all the attention at 3:51 a.m. in the 800 block of Joy Lane.

Civil: People are in the station to report a friend they allowed to stay in their home is now causing trouble. The subjects are referred to the constables office regarding eviction process at 7:46 a.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Family disturbance: Officers receive a report of a fight with property being destroyed inside the home. The family talks it out and goes out for dinner at 4:36 p.m. in the 1400 block of Bronco Road.

Thought for the day: You might want to let your friends know if you plan to arrive during the middle of the night. Some neighbors take their guard duties quite seriously.

Feb. 23. Auto theft: A vehicle left alongside the road after a minor accident is not there when the tow company arrives to tow it at 10:58 a.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Suspicious: There is a report that a man left a backpack in their store. He returned and claimed it had been full of diamonds and gold but it is now empty at 1:26 p.m. in the 500 block of Avenue B.

Theft: A man reports that his gas meter was stolen in the past 30 minutes. The gas company removed the meter and will return in the morning to reinstall it at 5:47 p.m. in the 1700 block of St. Andrews Court.

Thought for the day: The gas company is pretty prompt on its appointments, so it isn’t considered stealing if the item taken belongs to them.

Feb. 24. See person: Officers receive a report of a domestic triangle involving threats, harassment and phone calls. The subject was directed to Justice Court for a protective order at 8:33 a.m. in the 1900 block of Buchanan Boulevard.

Threats: The caller states a tree trimmer was making threats after he was taking pictures. The trimmer decides he can trim his own trees at 5:06 p.m. in the 1700 block of Fleetwood Street.

Thought for the day: It might be in your best interest to save the photo op for when the worker isn’t dangling from a dangerous height.

Feb. 25. See person: The subject with the empty backpack caper earlier in the week now wants to see whether his items have reappeared in the police department. The subject is warned about making false statements to the police at 12:19 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Threats: A woman states that she dissolved her protective order and now her ex is acting out. She is redirected to Justice Court to reapply for a protective order at 12:21 p.m. in the 700 block of Elm Street.

Thought for the day: You might want to leave the protective order in place if you take the time to get one; most breakups don’t end up at that level so it’s a good indication of future behavior.

Call of the week: A man requests officer assistance in making his roommates let him back into his residence. He advises he will just wait outside for us to arrive at 5:22 p.m. in the 800 block of Utah Street.

Tina Ransom is a dispatcher with Boulder City Police Department. She is coordinator of the Boulder City Citizen’s Academy.