An old IRS phone scam is back and some Limestone County residents are on the receiving end of the calls.

For those who don’t answer the telephone number, the voicemail sounds something like this, “We have been trying to reach you. This call is officially a final notice from IRS — Internal Revenue Service. The reason for this call is to inform you that IRS is filing a lawsuit against you. To get more information about this case file, please call immediately on our department number.”

According the the Internal Revenue Service, phone calls from criminals impersonating the IRS remain an ongoing threat to the taxpayer. The IRS has seen a surge of the phone scams in recent years as scam artists threaten taxpayers with police arrest, deportation and license revocation among other things.

“We are working hard to protect taxpayers from identity theft and other scams this filing season,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in a recent press release. “Taxpayers have rights and should not be frightened into providing personal information or money to someone over the phone or in an email. We urge taxpayers to protect themselves from scams — old and new.”

Tricia Pruitt, Better Business Bureau regional vice president for Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone

Morgan and Winston counties, said the phone scam is an old scam that died down for a little while, but now it’s back. So far, the scam doesn’t originate in the United States. It’s always been outside it, Pruitt said.

The IRS is sending only written notices if you owe any back taxes and the IRS will not call out of the blue, she said.

The IRS could call taxpayers in the future but the call would come from a collection agency, according to Pruitt. Those who are unsure about IRS calls should contact the Internal Revenue Service, but not the number left by the potential scammers.

The phone scammers have also been known to ask for money loaded to iTunes gift cards. However,

the IRS does not use iTunes gift cards, Pruitt said.

Consumers who receive one of the calls or voicemails can keep these Better Business Bureau tips in mind:

• Don’t wire any money. The IRS will not ask for payment over the phone, especially by money order or prepaid debit card. If you owe money to the IRS, they will send you a letter in the mail.

• Just hang up and don’t call back. It is tempting to get the last word, but you may end up giving scammers information they can use later.

• Never give out your personal information or banking information. Caller ID spoofing makes it very easy for callers to pretend to be someone else. Scammers have also posed as immigration authorities and representatives of utilities companies. Be very skeptical of anyone who calls asking for money or personal information.