Bridgeport police are warning about scam artists who are targeting senior citizens and undocumented residents.

One victims tells News 12 Connecticut that he received a telephone call this week from somebody claiming to represent the IRS. Before it was over, he was out nearly $3,000.

The victim asked for his identity to be withheld due to embarrassment over falling for the scam. Police reports show he was contacted by telephone on Tuesday and was told that if he didn't purchase several Walmart gift cards amounting to his total debt with the IRS, then turn those cards over to the revenue service, he was going to be arrested and sent to jail for 48 hours.

The victim says he used a credit card to purchase the gift cards worth nearly $3,000, and then gave the caller his account number and PIN.

Police Chief AJ Perez says if you get a call from somebody who claims to be working with the Bridgeport Police Department to collect a debt, that caller is definitely a scam artist.

"We don't work that way," he says. "Ignore those calls."

Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam is asked to call Bridgeport police at 203-581-5100.