The IRS is seeking to warn people about the latest tax scam, which is ironically taking place inside the pews of churches. Some con artists are taking innocent church members to the cleaners by convincing them to exchange false 2011 tax returns for cash, according to workers from the Internal Revenue Service.

People are duped into filing a federal return for specific tax refunds, rebates or even tax credits that they were never eligible for in the first place, says Michael Dobzinski, spokesman for the IRS.

Dobzinski also says that this scam is continuing well past the April deadline. “I’ve even spotted fliers posted on church bulletin boards,” he remarks.

In some instances, people are charged a fee to learn how to guarantee their monetary return, in which case the fraudsters pocket the difference and flee town, the spokesman said.  Other times, these crooks attempt to scam Uncle Sam by collecting the money back from all of the supposed filings.  Late returns indicate that the money wasn’t properly withheld, Dobzinski adds.

The spokesman also says that this con is prevalent throughout the United States, but most cases originate from central Florida. He offers some sound advice:  “If it seems too good to be true, then it most likely is.” This is in addition to free cash offers “with no required documents,” said the spokesman.

“These con artists pop up in local churches all over the country,” said Dobzinski.  “They set their sights on the congregations by preying on their vulnerable nature.  Next, word of mouth spreads the scheme among the unsuspecting relatives and family friends.”

He did not say any of the church names that were scammed.

If anyone has questions regarding a specific program or 2011 tax credit they should call the toll-free number of the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040.  It is also possible to visit any Taxpayer Assistance Center for the IRS or go online to www.IRS.gov for more information.