NASHVILLE (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service is warning East Tennessee residents of scammers who may pretend to be IRS employees conducting a telephone survey.

According to a news release from the agency, the IRS generally does not conduct direct surveys of individual taxpayers by phone.

IRS spokesman Dan Boone said scammers may be trying to trick people into providing private information or sending money.

Boone also warned that scammers may pretend to be tax experts claiming to tell taxpayers about breaks or benefits. They could make contact through flyers, email, text messages or even tweets. And they might try to gain trust by knowing something about their victims.

Taxpayers who are suspicious about a contact may call the IRS at (800) 829-1040.