MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers to be on the lookout for scammers posing as IRS employees or as tax preparers with special knowledge about getting tax benefits.

The IRS spokesman for Alabama, Dan Boone, says one common scam involves fake IRS emails. Boone said the IRS does not contact taxpayers by email, text message or social media to request personal or financial information. He said contact is usually done by mail.

Another common scam is people promising expertise in getting free government money. Boone said these scammers often target low-income people and senior citizens. He said these scammers have filed bogus claims for people to get higher education tax credits when they were not enrolled in or paying for college.