A congresswoman is warning New Yorkers to watch out for tax preparers who charge exorbitant fees and file fraudulent taxes.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s office says Saturday it is creating legislation that would crack down on such scam artists.

Federal data shows 42 million individual income tax refunds filed in 2011 were filled out by unlicensed preparers. One New York state investigation found about 40 percent of preparers was using fraudulent practices.

The legislation proposed by Maloney would grant the Treasury Department authority to move forward with measures that would protect consumers from this type of fraud.

Taxes must be filed by April 15.

(AP)