CHENANGO COUNTY – New York State legislators are warning residents of phone and email tax scams from individuals claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service or NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

According to a statement from the Governor’s Press Office, scammers pretending to be IRS or taxation department employees are telling victims they will be fined, arrested or deported if they do not pay a claim of owed taxes. Officials are encouraging taxpayers to be cautious when responding to such threats.

While most scams have been reported in the 530 area code, all New Yorkers are subject as scammers are able to make the phone number of the IRS, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles and even local police appear on the caller ID screen.