Photo Provided This is a copy of the fake letter received in the mail with the self address of “Tax Processing Center, Vienna W.Va” from the “Bureau of Tax Enforcement For Wood County Public Judgment Records.”

PARKERSBURG — Wood County Sheriff’s Office released a press release on Wednesday about a new local scam.

The press release said an individual received a letter in the mail from the “Bureau of Tax Enforcement For Wood County Public Judgment Records.”

“The envelope the letter came in had a self address of ‘Tax Processing Center, Vienna W.Va.,'” the press release said.

According to the sheriff’s department, the body of the letter claims to be a distraint warrant placing judgment against the recipient for owed back taxes. It warns of placing garnishment, property seizures or a lien on any property now owned or acquired in the future until the debt is paid off, the department said.

“This is a scam,” the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said.

There is no “Tax Processing Center” of Vienna, W.Va., and no “Bureau of Tax Enforcement For Wood County Public Judgment Records,” the press release said.

“For years we have told our public that if the IRS wants to communicate with you they will send a letter, not call you,” the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said.

“Well, the scammers have smartened up and have started sending fake letters,” local officials said.

According to the press release, back taxes become public record.

“The people running these scams search those databases, get names and send these letters out,” the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said.

“If you receive a letter, do not call the number listed in the letter. Instead, look up the number for the IRS yourself and call them about what you owe,” the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said.