Tax time can be a feeding frenzy for scammers out there. Each year, scammers steal social security numbers and file false returns. Scams with phishing phone calls will only become more common.
"It seemed like it was in a movie - just very unrealistic. But my fear got ahold of me," said Jordan Alexander, a scam victim.
The first big tip in sniffing out a scam is to remember that the IRS does not email or call you.
"If you've been audited, you're gonna get a letter in the mail. So, anybody who calls you like this, it is a scam," said Stephanie Zimmerman, ABC's "The Fixer."
Immediately report the call to the IRS. The government is cracking down and convicting thousands of people just last year.
Another big - and extremely costly scam - is stolen refunds. Identity thieves are ripping off taxpayers to the tune of billions of dollars every year by acquiring social security numbers and filing return to steal the refunds.
"People don't realize they're a victim until they file their own return and the IRS says, 'We already have one for you,'" said Zimmerman.
To protect yourself against this type of scam, call the IRS and get a PIN number so that only you have access to file your return. If it's already too late, go to IRS.gov and fill out an identity theft affidavit, then get a police report for additional proof.
You'll still get your refund, it's will just take several months and a lot of paperwork.
The IRS does have software to find those scammers. The latest report shows it caught more than 1 million suspicious returns in 2013 - totaling $8 billion dollars.