A phone scammer claiming to be collecting money for the IRS called Gwinnett County’s 911 center, the Gwinnett County Police Department said.

A 911 dispatcher answered a call around 3:30 p.m. and heard an automated voice telling her to call the IRS immediately. The dispatcher called the provided number and was told she owed $5,000 in back taxes and needed to pay within the next hour or be arrested, police said.

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The dispatcher was transferred to another scammer, who asked for the dispatcher’s payment information. Instead, the dispatcher told the scammer that the Gwinnett County Police had been contacted. The person on the phone disconnected the call, according to police.

The IRS does not contact people over the phone to collect back taxes. If back taxes are owed, the debtor is sent a letter in the mail. If you receive a call like this one, do not give the caller any payment information or send any money, the federal tax agency has said.

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