PAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Pawnee County are investigating a phone scam.

A resident reported they received a call and the number returned to the Kansas Department of Revenue, according to a social media report.

The Sheriff’s Department believes someone was able to use a legitimate number to call and leave an automated scam message informing that person that they needed to call them back.

In January, the Kansas Department of Revenue reported receiving reports of a tax scam targeting Kansans, according to a media release.

The callers all say that the recipient has a tax debt with the state of Kansas and push the recipient to pay the debt using a debit card or money order and threaten jail. The recipients were also told they failed to file a Form 61, which does not exist for the state of Kansas.

The calls show up on caller ID as a valid Department of Revenue number, 785-296-0671, which connects to the department’s Public Information Officer.

If taxpayers receive a call and are unsure if it is fraudulent or not, they should call the department’s tax customer service line 785-368-8222.