Washington Parish residents have reported yet another scam.

According to complaints received by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, the new scam involves someone calling a resident and claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. The caller alleges that the resident owes money to the IRS and threatens to seize all of the resident’s assets unless money is forwarded immediately. The caller states that the money must be sent by a prepaid Green-dot or Visa card.

Sheriff Randy Seal advises parish residents to hang up immediately if they receive such a call. It is not legitimate and generally originates from a foreign country. The caller definitely is not affiliated with the IRS.

“People who call and threaten citizens in such a manner are nothing but common criminals,” Seal said. “Don’t give them the pleasure of listening to their threats or promises and do not send them any money.”

Washington Parish residents might want to consult a website that outlines many of the hundreds of scams that are active in the United States. The website is www.scamawareness.org.