Scammers Try to Steal Tax Rebates

Tax refunds are already in the mail and the Internal Revenue Service has begun delivering those rebate checks designed to kick-start the economy.

(AP/ABC News)

With those billions of dollars come billions of reasons for scammers to try to steal your money, and even your identity, if you aren't careful.

Edna Lawrence got several phone calls about a refund, but she knew the caller was not the IRS.

"If you're from the IRS and you owe me a check, you mail it to me," she said. "Because the IRS does not call you on the phone."

Doug Shulman, IRS commissioner, confirmed that the IRS does not call or e-mail citizens. "We are never going to call you. We're never going to e-mail you and ask for personal information."

"So if you do get a call like that, hang up. If you get an e-mail like that, delete it," Shulman said.

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Most often, the scammers use phone calls and e-mails to secure the information they need. The e-mails often come with nice IRS logos and tell you to click on a link that will allow you "to access the form for your tax refund." But if you do click, your personal information could be up for grabs.

"If someone asks for your information saying they will speed up your rebate or refund, don't pay attention to them," said Shulman.

Shulman said that scamming is a far-reaching problem, with reports coming in from around the country.

In Texas, Janeil Curl fell for a scammer's phone call. The caller told Curl that she was getting a nice, big rebate check.

"They had my name, my address, my phone number, my Social Security number," she said. "They were believable."

The only thing the scammer didn't have was Curl's bank account numbers, so she told him.

Lucky for her, before the scammer could pull any tricks, Curl told her mother about the nice check she was getting.

"That's when my mom advised me to close down my account immediately," she said.

ABC News consumer correspondent Elisabeth Leamy advised taxpayers to be cautious and offered these tips:

Never give out any personal information, whether it's by e-mail or phone.