As economic stimulus checks arrived from the IRS the Better Business Bureau delivered a warning about possible scams.

The BBB issued a warning Tuesday about possible scams aimed at stealing IRS checks - and identities.

The checks began rolling off the presses last week at the U.S. Treasury Department's facility in South Austin.

Nationwide it's estimated $28 billion in economic stimulus checks are being mailed to American taxpayers.

"The important thing is checks are coming out now," said U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

Along with the checks came an opportunity for scam artists.

"Please click on the link below and fill out the form and submit before April the 18th," read Franklin McAllister from a recent email he received which claimed to be from the IRS.

"It was asking for me to fill out this form so I could get my check deposited early,” he said.

The logo on the e-mail looked like the official one from the IRS website -- and that was not surprising to Erin Jones of the Better Business Bureau.

"The e-mail actually looks very official. They've cut and pasted the digital media from the IRS website,” said Jones

While the graphic looks real the e-mail instructions are suspicious Jones said.

"The IRS only contacts people through the mail. They do not use the phone and they do not contact consumers through e-mail," she said.

The BBB is issuing a nationwide alert about the economic stimulus check scams, but McAllister worries vulnerable citizens may not get the warning until after it's too late.

"It worries me that people take advantage of mainly elderly people," he said.

The economic stimulus check scam was also being carried out by telephone.

Again, the IRS does not call or send emails -- instead all official communication is by mail.