This week, the Internal Revenue Service warned taxpayers, particularly the elderly, about an emerging tax scam that lures victims into filing tax returns with fraudulent refunds.

The IRS says it has stopped thousands of these fraudulent claims in the past few weeks and, while found across the country, the scams are most prevalent in Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, and Michigan. Scammers of this particular scheme mostly focus on people with little or no income and promise they can obtain a tax refund or stimulus payment for them through the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

The people behind the scams make money by charging upfront fees to file the victim’s claim. Once they have received the money, the scammers are gone and the victims are left to repay refunds received by mistake along with the penalty fees.

If you or someone you love is suffering as a result of a tax scam, contact the tax relief attorneys of the Tax Relief Law Center.