(Radio Iowa) — Iowans are being warned about scams which authorities say have cost a few people in northwest Iowa several thousand dollars. Tricia Driessen, director of the Center for Financial Education in Sioux Center, says con artists may call or send a letter or email claiming you’re overdue on a bill or you’ve been picked for a “secret shopper” program and in either case, you need to act right away. “They’re sent out to buy these gift cards and are told to send pictures of the numbers,” Driessen says. “The cards are almost immediately drained. There’s very little recourse and the money is essentially gone.”

The scammers are good at what they do, Driessen says, and they can be very convincing. “These people are very crafty in how they ask you to get this money for them,” Driessen says. “They play on your emotions. They make it sound like it’s going to be a tremendous opportunity. You’re best off to hang up.”  Cody Huizenga, with the Better Business Bureau, says the Secret Shopper scam can take different forms and you need to be wary. “Either you get something in the mail and it’s a legitimate-looking check and they want you to go out and buy some stuff and then send a portion of the money back,” Huizenga says. “Ultimately, this check, if you deposit it, after a couple of days, it will bounce.”

The B-B-B tracks scams that are reported in Iowa and gives other information regarding the various cons. Huizenga says the best advice to consumers is to be vigilant. “Even just clicking on a link, if you get an email, we tell people to be very cautious in clicking on it,” Huizenga says. “Do some research. Check it out on BBB.org and check out other sites, too. See if there’s any reviews.” If in doubt, Huizenga says to call the nearest chapter of the B-B-B, and report scams to the appropriate government agency.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has issued its latest report on arrests/activities. On Tuesday, Feb. 26th:

• 30-year old Andrew Dean West appeared at the Sheriff’s Office to turn himself-in on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail.
• 21-year old Peter Douglas Hobart, who was already in the Pott. County Jail, was presented with a Bench Warrant charging him with felony, Escape from Custody. Hobart was being held until a Residential Correctional Facility is available.

Today (Wednesday):

• 23-year old Rosmedi Lozano Sanchez was transported to the Pott. County Jail from the jail in Douglas County, NE. Sanchez was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for  Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, the bond for which was set at $2,000. She was also being held for officials with ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement).
• 24-year old Elizabeth Carrie Lynn Heinrich was transported from the Douglas County, NE. jail to the Pott. County Jail, where she was wanted on a warrant for Operating a Vehicle without the owner’s consent, and held for another agency.
• And, 50-year old Bryan Ashley Santee was transported from the Sarpy County, NE. jail to the Pott. County Jail today (Wed.), where he was wanted on a felony warrant for Child Endangerment with bodily injury. Bond was set at $5,000.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report two women were arrested on separate warrants, Tuesday. Brianna Lynn Pace, of Creston, was arrested on a warrant for violation of a No Contact order. She was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate. And, Alicia Leann McLandborough, of Creston, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear on a Debtors Exam. Her cash-only bond was set at $5,000.

And Police received two reports of Theft, Monday, in Creston. A man at Homestead Assisted Living, in Creston, reported a wallet with $255 was stolen. And, the Nishna Valley Credit Union in Creston reported a theft in the amount of slightly more than $4,818.