This is starting to become a springtime tradition. I warned last week about this scam, and now we're starting to get consumer complaints on it.

Con artists are calling Missouri consumers claiming to be from the IRS, asking for verification of Social Security numbers. Make no mistake: this is not the IRS calling. This is a scam. Attorney General Nixon issued a consumer alert on it today.

This scam also happens via e-mail. Here's a sample.

#1 rule of thumb with ID theft: never give our your personal information to anyone who contacts you. Only give it out when you have initiated the contact.