HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Internal Revenue Service officials want to warn people about several tax scams, including some that are very popular in the state of Alabama.
IRS officials are calling this list the "Dirty Dozen".
First, be on the lookout for phishing scams. Scammers find their victims through unsolicited emails or through fake web sites.
Identity theft can happen anytime you share your personal information with someone you don't know.
"Return preparer fraud" involves tax preparers preying on unsuspecting taxpayers. The con artists have been known to skim money off the top of their clients' refunds, charge inflated fees for tax preparation services, and promise large refunds.
Beware of "Free Money" scams involving social security. These may surface through flyers suggesting you can file a tax return with little or no documentation.
And avoid people who encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish claims about deductions to avoid paying the taxes they owe.
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