BUTLER TWP — A number of township residents apparently have been targeted by what federal authorities have labeled a sophisticated IRS-related phone scam.

One taxpayer was conned out of $2,000, township police said.

In all, eight residents since January have notified police that they have received telephone calls from aggressive callers claiming to be from the IRS. Suspects demand immediate payment for outstanding taxes or criminal prosecution will be sought.

The unknown callers, who speak with a Middle Eastern or Indian accent, “are telling people that the IRS has warrants for their arrest and that they need to send money to the IRS right away,” according a police report.

Authorities said that the IRS will never call to demand immediate payment and the agency won’t call about taxes owed without first mailing the resident a bill.

They also won’t ask for credit card or debit card numbers over the phone or threaten someone with local law enforcement assistance to arrest someone for not paying.

The IRS said the scam has struck every state in the country.

According to an agency statement, if you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:

n If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.

n If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.gov.

n You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “other” and then “impostor scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS telephone scam” in the notes

Residents can learn about more tips to avoid scams at www.consumer.ftc.gov.