Residents who file their taxes for the first time in Alabama won't be able to get their checks via direct deposit in order to prevent fraudulent returns, the Alabama Department of Revenue announced Thursday.

The Department announced in February it had received more than 16,000 suspected fraudulent returns from third-party tax preparing softwares, and so would implement additional security measures.

First-time filers will get paper checks for their income tax returns.

Filers who may be victims of fraud will get a letter from the Department asking them to complete an ID confirmation quiz either online or by phone. If you get the request for the quiz, the Department won't process your return until the quiz is taken.

If you receive the request but haven't filed an Alabama Income Tax Return yet, you may be a victim of identity theft and should call the Department of Revenue at (334) 242-1170.

Alabama ranks 14th in the country for identity theft complaints, according to the Better Business Bureau.

The Department already implemented an ID confirmation quiz to identify fraud, which residents need to take if they used online filing services between Jan. 20 and Feb. 20.

If you use an online tax filling software, the Department requests you change your password immediately and frequently.