A tax scam alert has been issued by the Iowa Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service.

According to the department, cyber criminals are stealing personal information from computers of tax practitioners. They state, fraudulent returns in a few cases used real bank accounts of taxpayers for the false returns to be deposited. The criminal then poses as a debt collection agency official and contacts the taxpayer saying a refund was deposited in error and asks the money be forwarded. The Iowa Department of Revenue does not make such calls.

If you’ve been the victim of identity theft fill out the fraud report here or if you do not have computer access by calling (515) 281-5986.