(Radio Iowa) – As the holidays approach, Iowans are being reminded to be vigilant about con artists that will call, claiming you owe back taxes. Christopher Miller, a spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service, says even as the volume of those scam calls is beginning to slow, unsuspecting people continue to be hooked by the crooks.  “We still find people are falling victim to these scams and schemes,” Miller says. “It’s a really good time to emphasize that, especially now as the online shopping season is kicking off.”

Miller says Iowans need to be on guard for this type of scam all year long, in particular, during December. Miller says, “I’m hoping that people are becoming more aware of this important message that the IRS is not going to call you out of the blue to ask you for your personal information.” He notes, the I-R-S is never going to demand payment over the phone for back taxes.  Miller says, “We certainly are not going to ask you to ever pay your bill by a gift card like an iTunes card.”

Many of the same crooks that were using the I-R-S name are now pretending to be from other agencies, including Social Security, the F-B-I, local police departments and more. Miller says if you get someone demanding payment over the phone, simply hang up.

(Updated 10-a.m.) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests over the past week:

• This (Monday) morning, 23-year old Tylor Anthony Witzel, was taken into custody at the Polk County Jail, and transported to Pott. County on a State of Iowa warrant for Contempt of Court.
• Saturday night, 40-year old Briana L. Fricke, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault.
• Friday night, four people were arrested in connection with the arrest in Honey Creek, of an allegedly impaired driver: 49-year old Genevieve Rachel Stueve was charged with OWI/1st offense; 49-year old Gina Susanne Huber, 42-year old April Mae West, and 43-year old Darren Dion West, were each charged with Interference with Official Acts, after they allegedly tried to intervene with an investigation.
• Friday afternoon, 34-year old Rebecca Teresa Romo, of Council Bluffs, turned herself-in on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. The warrant was confirmed and Romo was booked into the Pott. County Jail.
• And, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, 24-year old Eric David Rock, of Minden, was presented Friday, with a warrant for Violation of Probation and Voluntary Absence from Custody.

At around 10:03-a.m. Wednesday, another inmate in the Pott. County Jail, 33-year old Eric Michael Wiig, of Bellevue, NE., was served with a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. Wiig was presented with the warrant and returned to the custody of jail staff.  Tuesday night, 21-year old Delores Bernice Corbine was arrested at a convenience store/gas station, for Public Intoxication. Last Tuesday morning, 30-year old Heather Renee Plum turned herself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office. Once a valid warrant for Child Endangerment with Bodily Injury was confirmed, Plum was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over to corrections staff.

And, at around 8:50-a.m. on Dec. 2nd, 42-year old Justin D. Alstadt was arrested for Driving While Barred.