Officials with the Audubon County Memorial Hospital report the hospital has been notified by several members of the community that they have been contacted by a caller claiming to be from the Audubon County Memorial Hospital.  The caller has a foreign voice and asks for money they claim is owed for a hospital bill.  The caller ID is showing up as Audubon County Memorial Hospital which is something easy to do according to the police.  They are apparently very persistent and hospital officials are concerned that a person might give them credit card or personal information over the phone.  The Audubon Police Department has been made aware of the situation.  The incidents are a classic case of spoofing that is unfortunately all too common these days.

Tips to avoid spoofing scams
You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be extremely careful about responding to any request for personal identifying information.

§  If you answer the phone and the caller – or a recording – asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.

§  Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with “Yes” or “No.”

§  Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.

§  If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company’s or government agency’s website to verify the authenticity of the request.  You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for a payment.

§  Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.

WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s no time like the present to watch the shifting sands of the hourglass foretell the inevitable forward march of time. It’s time again to abide by the old adage to spring forward (though it’s not yet spring) and mark the shift from standard to daylight saving time. The change occurs at 2 a.m. local time Sunday across most of the United States, so set your clocks an hour ahead before going to bed Saturday night. Daylight will begin to last longer into the evening, but the sun will take an hour longer to emerge in the morning.

No time change is observed in Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas. Standard time returns Nov. 3.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports 59-year old Charles Frederick Fancher, of Audubon, was arrested Feb. 28th. He was taken into custody for Simple Assault and Disorderly Conduct.  Fancher was later released on bond from the Audubon County Jail. And, on Thursday (March 7), 22-year old Zeth Lee Petersen, of Audubon, was arrested for Filing a False Report to Law Enforcement.  Petersen turned himself in on a warrant and was released after posting bond. The incident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A woman has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars from several businesses in Polk County. Polk County court records say 65-year-old Janet Cole is charged with six counts of theft, three of forgery, two of fraudulent practices and one of money laundering.  Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 18. Court documents say since 2012 she wrote unauthorized checks to herself and forged signatures on checks written to the companies. The records say she lives in Altoona.

Police in Creston report 40-year old Seth Jacob Preston, of Creston, was arrested Thursday afternoon. Preston was arrested at the Adult Probation Office, for a State narcotics warrant – controlled substance violation, a Class-B Felony. Preston was being held without bond, in the Union County Jail.

And, Creston Police say a resident reported to them on Wednesday, that a lock on his truck was cut. A drill and grinder were reported missing. The incident resulted in a loss of about $150.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County, Thursday, reported three recent arrests. On Wednesday, 42-year old Travis Matthew Handley, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood, on two warrants for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $20,000. And, 32-year old Jessie James Baker, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Clarinda Correctional Facility, on a Mills County warrant for Theft in the 1st Degree. His bond was set at $10,000.

On Thursday, 50-year old Roger Wayne Brock, of Kansas City, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County. Brock faces charges that include Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Theft in the 5th Degree, Fraudulent use of Registration, and Failure to provide proof of insurance. Brock was also cited for improper license plate lamp. His bond was set at $1,600.

Mills County Sheriff’s officials said also, two people were transported to the hospital in Red Oak, following a collision at around 6:10-a.m. Thursday. A 2015 GMC driven by 50-year old Peter Phillips, of Glenwood, was traveling east on Highway 34, when the front and rear tires on the passenger side of his vehicle left the road and entered the deep snow on the shoulder. When Phillips over-corrected, the vehicle went across the center line of the highway and collided head-on with westbound 2002 Dodge, driven by 52-year old Barbara Stegall, of Emerson. Both drivers were transported to the hospital by Malvern Rescue,