IRS scams continue in Rutherford County. An elderly resident in Murfreesboro came home to find this message on her answering machine...

The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, lawsuits, deportation or loss of a business or driver's license.

The IRS usually first contacts people by mail - not by phone - about unpaid taxes.

The callers who commit this fraud often:

• Use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.
• Know the last four digits of the victim's Social Security number.
• Make caller ID appear as if the IRS is calling. • Send bogus IRS emails to support their scam.
• Call a second time claiming to be the police or DMV, and caller ID again supports their claim.

The IRS won't ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The agency also won't ask for a credit card number over the phone.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment, here's what to do: If you owe federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions. If you don't owe taxes, call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.