Tax Time Scams: Uncle Sam Isn't The Only One Wanting Your Money

It's tax time. And, while many of us hate that the government is taking too much of our paychecks, the Detroit Police warn that there may be nefarious types that would like to snitch some of our money, too.

Detroit Police warned this week that residents beware and protect themselves from various schemes that arise this time of year. Here are three commons scams:

IRS Imposter Scam: This scam generally involves someone pretending to be agent of the tax collection agency who is trying to "assist" you with your taxes or verifying your personal information. Don't fall for it. The IRS will always contact you first by mail before reaching out to you via phone. If someone does call, make sure to verify the employee and the form with the IRS by phoning agents or using the IRS.gov website.

Tax ID Theft: A very common scam during tax season, and one where an imposter will try using someone else's Social Security number to get a job or file a tax return. To avoid this scam, be sure to hire a reputable tax preparer and watch for any mail that indicates a duplicate tax return has been filed. Do not click on any links that ask you to submit your Social Security number or bank account numbers.

Telephone Scam: In this scam, either a real person or robocaller solicits you to share your personal information. Don't do it. Add your name to the National Do Not Call Registry, never send money, and do not provide credit card or Social Security numbers, and do not share personal information.

And the scams continue to evolve and get more sophisticated. In February, the IRS warned of a scam where "erroneous tax refunds" were being deposited into individual's bank accounts. The refunds came from a bogus tax return getting filed that generated the tax refund. The agency said thieves, posing as agents, then would contact recipients of these refunds to return the refunds.

If you feel you have been the victim of any of the scams, do not hesitate to contact police.

Image via Shutterstock