The holiday season has ended. However, tax season is just around the corner. Police Chief Gene Meek said it’s a busy time of year for scammers. He warns that fraud activity is on the rise.

“People need to be cautious,” Meek said. “During the holidays and tax season is when we see an increase in fraud activity.”

He explained that criminals often use fear to trick people. They want victims to panic. They want victims to pay money quickly.

“A little common sense can go a long way, though,” he said. “If your bank is making contact with you, then they probably won’t be asking you what your account number is.”

Meek noted that older adults are frequent targets.

“As we have already seen, when these types of phone calls are made, they attempt to apply pressure to certain individuals as urgently as possible,” he said. “The thieves think the elderly are easier targets and more easily confused, so they go for them more commonly.”

One popular scam involves taxes. A caller claims you owe a debt to the IRS. They might say there was a mistake on your return. This happens all over the country. The IRS has even released warnings about it. The agency says it never collects debts over the phone.

Another recent scam involves fake police officers. A caller claims to be from law enforcement. They say you have an outstanding warrant. Then they demand payment to clear it up.

“No law enforcement is not going to call you to try to collect money for a warrant over the phone,” Meek advised.

He offered simple advice for dealing with strange calls: Be careful. He suggested not talking to suspicious callers at all.

“If you have doubts about who you’re talking to, just hang up,” the chief said. “You can always call the institution that was supposedly reaching out to you to confirm or deny what you were told.”

Law enforcement officials offer several tips to help you stay safe from scams:

Never give personal information over the phone. Do not share your Social Security number or bank details unless you made the call.

Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers can change the number that appears on your phone. It might look like a local business or government agency even when it is not.

Beware of urgent demands. Legitimate organizations will not threaten you with immediate arrest or demand instant payment.

Watch out for unusual payment methods. Scammers often ask for payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Government agencies do not accept payment this way.

Take your time. If someone pressures you to act now, stop. Hang up and talk to a friend or family member before doing anything.