Bismarck, N.D. (AP) North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says there's been a surge in calls received by residents and reported to his office about a telephone scam in which perpetrators pose as IRS agents.
Stenehjem says the con artists are pretending to be Internal Revenue Service agents and accuse residents of tax fraud. Stenehjem adds the scammers claim the only way victims can avoid being arrested is by buying pre-paid cash cards and then reading back the cards' numbers to the caller.
Stenehjem is reminding residents to never confirm or provide personal information during a scam call. He is also asking residents to not try to "play along'' with the scam artist.
Federal authorities believe the calls originate from outside the United States.