With tax season under way, thousands of South Floridians are learning criminals have gotten to their Internal Revenue Service refunds by stealing their identities. 

"I went to file my taxes, and I was told somebody used my name already," said Linda Gage, who was one of hundreds in line at Miami's IRS office recently looking for help. 

Joan Miles, another victim in line at the IRS office in Plantation, said she had no idea her identity had been stolen until she filed for her tax refund and was told it was already claimed.

"Nobody has ever stolen my bag," said Miles. "Nobody has ever stolen anything from me." 

Identities have become so lucrative, federal agents recently busted low-level employees at a Social Security office who they said were selling identifying information on the side to cyber-criminals. 

Thanks to quick tax return programs like those in storefronts and online, anyone with basic identifying information like name, occupation and date of birth can file a tax return and have it sent to any address, usually a mailbox at a vacant property the criminal can access. They can also load the refund on a cash or debit card. 

Miami and Tampa are two of the hottest cities for identity theft crimes, according to investigators.

Click here for information from the IRS on what to do if you are the victim of identity theft.