SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - On Tuesday, CBS News 8 reported on how a KFMB employee turned the tables on an IRS phone scammer and since the report, many viewers reported receiving similar calls.
One of those viewers was Wally Ghamraoui who received a robocall message from someone claiming to be from the IRS.
Ghamraoui did not call the number back but instead called the IRS directly.
"I googled to find the IRS phone number directly - the correct phone number. I called them and they said - you are clear, this is a scam," said Ghamraoui.
Local realtor Mary Heon was also threatened by a robocall and she decided to call the number back to see how they were planning to swindle her.
According to the phone scammer, Heon had been audited for her 2010 to 2014 tax records and owed the IRS $5,896. She then proceeded to question why she had not received a letter first.
The man told her the government was trying to save paper.
"He said - well the IRS is going green. They no longer use the mail, and instead they are calling people. They are really savvy and really good at making stuff up. I can totally understand how somebody would fall for this," said Heon.
The IRS said over the past three years U.S. taxpayers have been scammed out of $40 million from phone scams.
The IRS is also warning the public about fraudsters sending IRS letters with the official logo through email.
The agency said it will never contact anyone by phone or email - only by letter through the U.S. mail. If ever in doubt the IRS advises to call them directly.
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