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The third in our series of tax season scams is called the Refund and Recovery scam.
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This one is especially painful because the targets are individuals who have already been victimized in a previous scam.
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Here's how it works: someone contacts you promising to help you recoup the money you lost ...
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but you must pay them first. This payment is referred to as a "retainer fee" or "processing fee."
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Scammers keep and share lists of people who have already been tricked by scams.
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This list includes information like your name, address, the type of scam used, and how much money you lost.
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So, when the scammer contacts you, they're familiar with your situation and make you think you can trust them.
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But once you pay the money, that person disappears, and you're out even more money than you were before.
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If you've been targeted by an IRS scam, the first step you should take is to report it.
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You can report tax scams to the IRS by forwarding the communication to phishing@IRS.gov.
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And for more information about scams, visit USPIS.gov.