Consumer watch: IRS warns taxpayers of refund scams

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is urging taxpayers to be wary of scams as the tax deadline looms and many Americans anticipate refunds."When those bad actors borrow the name, the legitimacy of that government agency we tend to trust that and especially when you’re talking about the IRS," said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center.Velasquez is the head of the non-profit organization that provides resources to victims of scams.She warns that advancing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are making it easier for fraudsters to target individuals."They’re getting much more sophisticated," said Velasquez.Recent data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that the amount of money lost to scams has increased by 14% in the last year.Approximately 2.6 million people reported being scammed, with consumers losing more than $10 billion."People are being lied to and they believe those lies because of the limited experience we have," added Velasquez.The IRS has clarified that they will never contact taxpayers via email, text, or social media for a bill or tax refund.If taxpayers receive a letter in the mail, they are advised to double-check the phone number and ensure it matches the number on the official IRS.gov website.For those who suspect they have fallen victim to a scam, it is recommended to report it to authorities. This includes the IRS, local law enforcement, or the Federal Trade Commission.