(Missourinet) – A consumer alert has been issued by the Internal Revenue Service warning Missourians that scammers are targeting people through direct mail now.

Michael Devine with the I-R-S says taxpayers need to be vigilant if being asked for personal information or to send money immediately.

“Some of them may look very authentic but they’re fake,” Devine says. “If the only contact you normally have with the IRS is sending in your tax return once a year you should be very suspicious of any unexpected contact.”

Devine says the letters being sent out look very authentic and if in doubt, he says to double-check by calling the I-R-S. He says the I-R-S will not contact taxpayers via phone, email or social media.