Brenda Mounger of Gloucester Court House, wants local residents to be on the alert for a telephone scam.

Mounger said a man claiming to be working for the Internal Revenue Service called her home and left a message on March 27, indicating he was trying to collect back taxes for her husband, Roy, for tax years 2008-2013. Mounger, who worked as an accountant for about 40 years, knew that wasn’t right because she had filed joint returns with her husband—and knew they didn’t owe any money. Also, the man asked if they had a lawyer.

Fortunately, they did not pay the man—but wanted to speak up so others won’t fall for the scheme.

Mounger returned the call on March 30 and, to her surprise, the caller actually left his name and a working telephone number. “He had a foreign accident and was very pushy,” she said. “Also, he knew my name, although he only asked for my husband.”

Then, Mounger said she called to report the matter to the Glouc...