The Sequim Police Department is experiencing an increased number of reports of phone scams. The callers are claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and demanding payment for money owed.

The public is advised to be cautious and to never give personal information over the phone.

If you receive a call that you suspect is a scam, hang up and report the call to the Sequim Police Department at 683-7227 so staff can monitor trends. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has set up an online blog where consumers also can report phone scams. Go to www.atg.wa.gov and search on phone scams.

According to the IRS website at www.irs.gov, the IRS will not:

• Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.

• Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount you owe.

• Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.

• Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

• Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.