Trumbull police are warning residents about a phone scam that is sweeping the nation and has recently targeted people in the community.

The scam consists of a caller who claims to work for the IRS. The caller says the person on the other end of the line owes the IRS money and if the debt is not paid, they threaten to arrest the person or a family member.

Police say some victims are so concerned that they send the caller the money.

Police say the scam has cost people $8 million nationwide. They say people in Trumbull alone have lost thousands over the last few months.

The IRS says in some cases, the scam involves methods that make the caller ID actually say IRS.

The IRS website provides a place for people to report the illegal activity.