Tax scams hitting hard this season, IRS warns

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The deadline to file your taxes is less than a month away, but there are various tax-related scams on the rise that could cost you thousands of dollars.

Most of us know about the IRS phone scam where fake IRS agents trick people into wiring thousands of dollars. But there are other new, tax-related scams hitting hard this season, as well as a warning about some tax preparers.

It's tax time - and the IRS says it's also the season for scammers. Experts say you need to be on guard for strangers who may use your social security number to file a fake tax return - or even questionable "tax preparers" cooking the books for themselves.

"Every year we find a nest, a group of people who decide to take advantage of their client the tax payers, and file false claims in their name we just recently indicted an individual (jump to ) they were filing false claims in the names of the tax payers and depositing the refunds," said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent James Robnett.

There are also new concerns about phishing, deceiving emails which look like they are from the IRS.

"And they're designed so that you open up an attachment and it obtains your personal information off your computer," Robnett said.

But the IRS will never initiate contact with taxpayers via email or phone about money owed.

And then there are scams which specifically target people who owe back taxes.

"They're saying they can help you alleviate that debt that you owe, when in actuality they can't. They ask for an advance fee," said Steve Bernas, Better Business Bureau.

The Better Business Bureau says no one can completely erase your IRS debt.

The BBB and the city's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department are also warning people about unlicensed tax preparers who may not provide the proper legal disclosures - or others which may be long gone and unable to protect you after you file.

"The BBB is always concerned about those pop-up places that appear on the street corners or in the mall or the car dealership, because come April 17 this year, they may not be around," Bernas said.

"And you want to make sure that you don't go to a tax preparer who says they can get you the largest refund, or that their fee is based on a percentage of the refund," Robnett said.

Before you use a tax preparer or accountant, you should make sure they are licensed. The IRS has also released what calls its "dirty dozen" warnings about U.S. tax scams and questionable refund claims.