Someone is putting a slightly different twist on an old scam.

Northeast Alabama residents have been receiving calls from individuals claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service, threatening to have them arrested if they don’t immediately send money to settle and old tax debt.

By using the IRS name these crooks are trying to intimidate people into sending money due to the fact NO ONE wants to have a problem with THAT agency.

We’ve covered all this before, but let’s quickly run through it again:

#1 – They’re not with the IRS; they’re con artists

#2 – If there’s truly a problem the IRS will contact you through the mail – NOT on the phone, and NOT through e-mail or text

#3 – The IRS won’t send anyone to your home to arrest you even if you do owe them money – you’ll have options in regard to settling your case.

Never ever give anyone you don’t know any personal private information; that includes any credit or debit card numbers, social security numbers or banking account information – and don’t purchase a Green Dot (or similar) card and give them money through that.

We usually try to provide some of the numbers the scammers are calling from – HOWEVER, here’s the new twist: they’re now able to make it appear as though you’re being called from your own number; this has happened to a number of local residents and to two WEIS Radio employees.

Joey Weaver has received a couple of those phony IRS calls with one of WEIS Radio’s phone numbers showing as the return number while Marc Summers has received those same calls showing his home number as the return number.

One number that has been associated with that latest rash of calls is (202) 241-1273; and, if you recall most of these scam attempts seem to come from the (202) area code.

Please spread the word among friends and family members that the IRS calls are absolutely nothing to worry about – because they’re not actually coming from the IRS.