The Pettis County Sheriff's Department is warning residents of tax scam phone calls being reported to their office. 

"Taxpayers across the nation face a deluge of these aggressive phone scams. Don't be fooled by callers pretending to be from the IRS in an attempt to steal your money," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “We continue to say if you are surprised to be hearing from us, then you're not hearing from us.”

In a press release, the IRS detailed a number of variations of tax scams that are common during the tax filing season.

"There are many variations. The caller may threaten you with arrest or court action to trick you into making a payment,” said Koskinen. “Some schemes may say you're entitled to a huge refund. These all add up to trouble. Some simple tips can help protect you."

The IRS will never:

  • Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
  • Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  • Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:

If you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think that you do:

If you know you owe, or think you may owe tax:

  • Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you.

More From AM 1050 KSIS