CLAY TWP — When 61-year-old Barbara Midkiff answered a call Monday evening from a wireless caller, she figured it was one of her adult children reporting that they had changed their cell phone number.

“They said it was the IRS and that I had penalties,” an alarmed Midkiff said.

Midkiff said the recorded message was in an American man's voice and he identified himself as a representative of the Internal Revenue Service.

“I immediately hung up,” Midkiff said.

The mother and grandmother didn't fall for the scam for two reasons. First, she had already completed her taxes and received her refund.

Second, Midkiff had heard about the scam, which has been in the news for some time.

Midkiff was able to laugh about the incident on Tuesday.

“I was shocked,” she said.

Midkiff was unable to say whether the recording gave a way for her to pay the fake taxes and penalties because she had hung up early in the call's duration.

Midkiff said she would expect scammers to target those living in big cities.

“It's happening here in the middle of Butler County,” she said. “(Clay Township) is nothing but a spot on the map and we're getting scammed.”

The scammers took the time to organize their plot, Midkiff said, because when she called the number back, the recording said it was the IRS office.

“It's wrong,” she said. “They shouldn't hurt older people like us.”

According to the IRS website, taxpayers are contacted through a letter or letters delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.

The IRS does not:

Demand payment over the phone, especially via a specific payment method such as prepaid debit cards, gift cards or wire transfer. The IRS will mail a bill to a delinquent taxpayer.

Demand payment without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.

Contact local law enforcement, non-law enforcement, immigration or others for the purpose of arresting the taxpayer.

Revoke a taxpayer's driver's license, business license or immigration status. These tactics are used to trick frightened victims.

If an IRS employee does visit a taxpayer's home, they are mandated to provide two specific forms of federal identification, the pocket commission and a HSPD-12 card.

More information is available by visiting the IRS website, www.irs.gov, and searching “scam.”

Midkiff is glad she was not taken in Monday night by the unscrupulous caller and cautions other senior citizens to be careful.

“I know I'm an old person and they probably thought they got me,” she said, “but they didn't.”