A recent report from the IRS warns people about a scam that is going around.

Scammers are targeting the elderly and those who receive Social Security or other government benefits by convincing them to file for false tax returns.

The world is full of scams — wherever there is money, there are people trying to attain it by fraud or trickery — and a scam in any form is deplorable.

But we find it particularly discouraging and despicable that those who are targeted the most are those who can least afford to be duped.

For someone who is already relying on government benefits — often because of age or disability — to be the target of a swindler is a shame.

In this tough economy, every dollar is hard to come-by.

For those on disability or Social Security, every dollar has a dedicated purpose — and none of them are dedicated to vicious scams.

Furthermore, the report states the unsuspecting are also more likely to be targeted.

Those people who would never try to deceive someone themselves, are often the most easily deceived. It is the innocent who will be convinced the lies are true.

In addition, the deception is being spread by good-intentioned people who have already been cheated — to their family, friends and neighbors. It’s the scam that keeps on scamming.

It’s another instance of the strong preying on the week. It starts with bullies on elementary school playgrounds; it may grow and change forms, but these scams are hardly isolated or unique events.

To those who have been the victims of this scam, we offer our condolences. To the instigators we say, pick on somebody your own size.

And finally we add these oft-repeated words of wisdom: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.