The Putnam County Sheriff and the Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration has issued a warning about phone calls by someone claiming to be from the IRS.  The callers say their intended victim owes taxes and must pay using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. 

Those refusing payment are threatened with arrest, deportation or loss of driver's license. 

Sheriff Donald Smith says the IRS usually contacts people by mail and won't ask for payment the way the scammer is.  They also will not ask for credit card information over the phone. 

The scam callers also give common names and fake badge numbers and know the last four digits of the victim's social security number.  The Treasury Inspector General's office has receive more than 20,000 claims of this scam happening with thousands of victims losing over $1 millionas a result.