PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says people should beware of identity theft scams that target taxpayers.

Jackley says as the deadline for filing federal income tax returns nears, people will receive emails or text messages claiming to be from Internal Revenue Service officials.

The attorney general says the scam messages tell people they are eligible to get a tax refund and direct them to an Internet address to get a form for receiving a refund. He says the link then asks for personal and financial information.

Jackley says the IRS does not ask for personal and financial information in unsolicited emails or phone calls. He says anyone contacted by someone claiming to be from the IRS should not open any email attachments or open or respond to text messages.

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