A caller tells a scam victim he’s Salina’s Chief of Police.

Authorities are warning the public about a phone scam that cost a Salina man $4,500.

Police say a 62-year-old man was contacted on Tuesday by a group of people who said they were from the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department’s legal team.

The victim told officers they had personal information about him and convinced him that he needed to send them money by purchasing gift cards.

The man later became suspicious and contacted police.

On Wednesday morning the scammer called back – this time explaining he was from the U.S. Attorney’s General’s Office to tell the victim he needed to send more money.

The man refused and was then contacted from a number that appeared to originate from the Salina Police Department. The caller told the victim he was Chief Brad Nelson and would need to pay the money.

Captain Mike Sweeney tells KSAL News that the suspects apparently used software to send a fake digital read out to the man’s phone ID screen.

“We’re trying to educate the public and let them know these scams are out there,” Captain Sweeney said.

Police say the calls originated from a foreign country by a company known as YMAX Oration. Sweeney says the group is known for running IRS phone scams.