Identity theft occurs when your personal information, (e.g., your name, Social Security number, address, etc.) is taken and used without permission to commit crimes or fraud.
A criminal who has access to your personal information may use it to file a return in your name in an attempt to steal your refund.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service have recently warned of an increase in scams, including sending emails, text messages, and calling over-the-phone to phish for information, tricking taxpayers into giving criminals personal information needed to commit identity fraud such as filing a tax return in your name.