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The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is warning consumers about a spike in fraudulent phone calls and IRS scam attempts.

In a nationwide scam, a caller falsely claiming to represent the IRS warns people they are behind on taxes and must make immediate payments to avoid arrest or legal action. After threats of jail time, deportation or driver's license revocation, scammers occasionally hang up and call a second time claiming to be with the local police or DMV, according to the DATCP.

Federal agencies identified more than 1,000 victims who have lost an estimated $5 million in these tax scams, according to the DATCP.

Potential recipients of this call are encouraged to remember the IRS does not ask taxpayers to pay their taxes using prepaid debit cards, credit cards or wire transfers over the phone, the IRS contacts consumers about unpaid taxes through the mail and call recipients should be wary of caller ID displaying "IRS" or the agency's toll-free number.

Additionally, scammers may know the last four digits of your social security number or send fake IRS emails to scam victims after an an initial call.

If you do receive a robocall, the DATCP encourages you to hang up and not press any buttons during the call.