Taxpayers and boaters, beware: La Crosse police have words of caution

Uncle Sam is giving Americans more time to file taxes this year, because of the problems caused by the spread of COVID-19. 

So, there’s a chance you might get a phone call from someone claiming to be with the IRS to talk about your taxes. 

Trouble is, Internal Revenue doesn’t call people with tax problems, and such a caller is probably a con man, says La Crosse Police Sergeant Tom Walsh.    

On WIZM’s La Crosse Talk, Walsh said scam artists may also try to get your banking information, just as the government is preparing to send out stimulus checks related to the COVID outbreak.

Walsh also has a warning for boaters, as La Crosse’s riverfront is reaching flood stage this week, possibly as soon as Thursday. 

The Mississippi has been at about 11 feet for much of Tuesday, and the flood stage is 12 feet. 

Water is already at the no-wake level, so La Crosse police Sergeant Tom Walsh says boaters going onto the water need to be careful and travel slowly.    

The river reached the 10-foot no-wake point earlier this week. 

Last year, the Mississippi remained above 10 feet in La Crosse for 90 days in a row, from March into June.