The IRS seemed to be targeting Tamaqua area residents on Monday, as many people received calls from someone claiming to be from the tax agency, demanding immediate payment.

Many of those calls came from a number showing up as being from California on caller ID.

The pitch was the same in every case, an automated message saying the agency has “four serious complaints against you and the cops will be at your door if you don’t call back immediately.”

If you didn’t answer the call, they actually left a voicemail.

Tamaqua Police Chief Rick Weaver says his department received almost one dozen calls about the scam “and those were just the people who called the department to report it.”

“It’s a scam, plain and simple, just like the calls saying you’ve won a prize in a contest you didn’t enter, or a family member has been arrested and needs an immediate cash transfer. They’re all coming from criminals looking to separate you from your money,” says Weaver.

The chief also reminds us to never give out our personal information over the phone, unless you’ve initiated the call.

“Banks and credit card companies already have your personal information from an application you provided. They don’t need to confirm your bank account number or social security number,” says Weaver.

If you receive such a call, do not call back.

Instead, file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, either by phone at 888-225-5322 or online at www.fcc.gov.