Buyers beware: Georgia shoppers should be on guard for identity theft

Holiday shoppers should be vigilant about scams to steal their private information and income tax refunds.

That's the warning delivered Monday by the Georgia Department of Revenue Commissioner Lynne Riley and the IRS, which are trying to crack down on tax fraud.

Customers shouldn't click on suspicious links in their emails, carry their Social Security cards with them or answer phone calls from thieves posing as legitimate organizations, they said. Personal information could be used to file fraudulent 2018 income tax returns. The state has blocked $118 million in fraudulent refund claims so far this year.