SANTA FE, N.M. -- The Attorney General's office said tax time is prime time for scams and tricks targeting unsuspecting New Mexicans.

The Attorney General's office told us too many people get greedy for a tax refund and end up losing money.

Rebecca Branch manages the Attorney General's consumer protection division.

It's an office fielding more than 14,000 calls a year.

Some e-mails promise quick tax refunds, but ask for personal banking information to do it.

The IRS will never contact you by e-mail, only by post mail.

Brand said anyone asking for banking information over the Internet probably doesn't have your best interests in mind.

Another thing to look out for is tax refund loans.

Most tax services offer refund loans.

They give you your estimated tax refund right now and you pay them back when you actually get the refund.

The problem is this can cost a consumer anywhere from $50 to $150 in service fees and interest.

While posing as the IRS and trying to get people's personal information is illegal, tax refund loans are perfectly legal.

This is a service, not a scam.

But the Attorney General's Office calls it an expensive and unnecessary service.