Note: on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, the Anoka County Sheriff's Department issued this release on their Facebook page. Please share with friends and family and make sure they do not fall for it!!

We have been receiving phone calls from complainants who are being contacted by individuals Identifying themselves as being from our office. The scammer tells the subjects they are wanted for "tax fraud" and gives them a second number to contact the "IRS" to clear up the tax fraud issue. The scammer uses a spoofing service that makes their caller ID show up as the Anoka County Sheriff's Office with the correct phone number of (763) 323-5000. No local law enforcement agency collects tax debt for the IRS and no government body will collect tax debt or bail or fines by phone. Do not give out any personal information by phone to any person claiming to be representing the IRS or local law enforcement for the collection of money for fines, bail or tax debt.

If you receive such a call, don't engage the person, call your local law enforcement agency.