CHICAGO (CBS) — Attorney General Lisa Madigan says with tax time rolling around it time to avoid the tax anticipation scam that has you paying the tax prep firm to get money that you’ll get anyway, and maybe just as fast, reports WBBM’s John Cody.

Attorney General Madigan says consumers paid $750 million for tax anticipation fees in just one year.

“They didn’t necessarily get their refunds any faster than they would if they had opted to electronically file which allows people to get a refund in 21 days,” said Madigan.

Madigan spoke while listing the top ten consumer complaint categories: Mortgage lending and debt collection, identity theft, telecom bills, home improvement and for profit schools. And she said if anyone wants you to send them money before they send you yours, just don’t do it.