As February marks the beginning of tax season, the risk of tax fraud looms.
Law enforcement officials say criminals target personal information to file fraudulent returns and claim refunds.
The methods used by scammers include impersonating IRS agents or using other people's Social Security numbers for wage taxation.
Alachua County Sheriff's Sgt. Frank Kinsey advises against sharing information over the phone, as no government entity requests it that way.
IRS notifications about unfiled W-2s serve as red flags for potential fraud.
While local law enforcement faces challenges in prosecuting such cases, people can take protective measures, such as obtaining an IRS-issued identity theft PIN.
Despite the stress of tax season, individuals can mitigate risks by staying vigilant and promptly reporting any fraud to both law enforcement and tax professionals.