Public Safety Alerts

Cold Weather Alert (1/29/2019)

Village Hall Warming Center During Business Hours

Near to record low temperatures and wind chills are expected Tuesday evening through Thursday morning. Riverwoods Village Hall at 300 Portwine Rd is available as a warming shelter during business hours. After hours, contact the Riverwoods Police Department at 847-945-1820.

Safety Tips

Extreme cold can be incredibly dangerous and can quickly result in frostbite, lead to hypothermia, and other life-threatening situations. Please consider the following safety tips:

• Avoid prolonged time outdoors. If you must spend time outside, follow this guide on how to most effectively dress in extreme cold.
• Know the risk, signs, and symptoms of hypothermia
• Know the risk, signs and symptoms of frostbite
• Have an emergency kit ready in your car. Blankets, flashlights, water, snacks, and jumper cables are a few of the essentials
• Don’t overexert yourself while shoveling snow. Call 9-1-1 if you experience chest pain
• Extreme cold is dangerous for pets too. Keep your pets safe by following these tips.
• Consider the following safety tips when using supplemental heat sources such as space heaters:
  • Ensure that all combustible items away from the unit
  • If using a kerosene heater, make sure it’s in a well-ventilated area
  • Do not run your stove or oven to generate heat
  • Homes with high-efficiency furnaces should make sure the venting to the outside of the home is clear and not snow covered.

 

Medicare Fraud Scam (03/27/2018)

Medicare is mailing new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare starting in April 2018.

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give them personal or private information to get your new Medicare Number and card. Scam artists may try to get personal information (like your current Medicare Number) by contacting you about your new card. If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Never give out any personal information unless you have confirmed whom you are speaking with.

Please share this message with relatives and neighbors who are seniors.

For questions, contact:

Chief Bruce Dayno

847-945-1130

bdayno@riverwoods-il.net

IRS Fraud Scam (03/20/2018)

Internal Revenue Service Scam

With tax season upon us, there may be an increase in calls from telephone scammers pretending to be with the Internal Revenue Service and demanding money for unpaid taxes. Here is what to watch for:

Callers purport to be an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) representative. Using intimidation tactics, the caller tries to take control of the situation from the beginning. The caller advises the call recipient that the IRS has charges against them and threatens legal action and arrest. If the recipient questions the caller in any way, the caller becomes more aggressive.

The recipients are advised that it will cost thousands of dollars in fees/court costs to resolve this matter. The caller creates a sense of urgency by saying that being arrested can be avoided and fees reduced if the recipient purchases Moneypak or other gift cards to cover the fees within an hour.

Remember these five things if you think you are on the line with an IRS scammer or other type of phone scammer.

You should never be asked to pay for any legitimate bill (utility, credit card, IRS payments, etc.) with any type of gift card.

The local police will never come to arrest you for an unpaid bill of any kind.

The IRS does not make “robo calls” (a computer-generated voice giving you a phone number to call back).

There is no such thing as “Windows Security” that remotely monitors your computer and calls you if they find a “breach” or to tell you your “SECURITY KEY” has expired

Be extremely vigilant if someone is calling to tell you a loved one has been in an accident, arrested or stranded and needs immediate cash.

If you receive an IRS scam call, hang up. You can Report the contact to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at http://www.treasury.gov/tigta by clicking on the red button, “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting.”

If you are concerned regarding your status with the IRS, contact the IRS directly through IRS.gov or 800-829-1040. Please share this information with those who may be susceptible to the scam, such as seniors. If you sent money, please contact the Riverwoods Police immediately at 847-945-1820 to file a report.

For questions or more information, contact Chief of Police Bruce Dayno at 847-945-1130 or email bdayno@riverwoods-il.net.