About two dozen victims of identity theft had already called U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s office by noon Friday to try to get help in reporting to the Internal Revenue Service that thieves had filed for a refund using their names.

Many have said they have not been able to get into the IRS office in Plantation to turn in a required identity theft affidavit, prompting Nelson’s staff to volunteer to help.

IRS staffers turned away some taxpayers this week because they said they did not have enough workers to help everyone affected by the fraud.

Security guards at the IRS warned about 100 people waiting in line Thursday “to leave or they would call police,” said one of the victims, Christy Zugelter, who is a deputy at the Broward Sheriff’s Office. “I was in shock. … I was amazed they could do this. They were supposed to work 9-5, and they were shutting the doors before 11 a.m.’’ Zugelter said she left, filled out the required ID theft affidavit and faxed it to the IRS. She later by phone reached an IRS representative in Washington, who confirmed a thief had used the BSO deputy’s Social Security number to claim a refund of $8,622.

Zugelter said she had volunteered to help find the identity thief, but the IRS staffer said she was not allowed to give out more information.

“This is just an example of how the government and state don’t work together,” Zugelter wrote in an email.

Meanwhile, Nelson’s staff will look into cases once victims sign a release form, spokesman Brian Gulley said. Victims can detail their IRS identity-theft problems to Nelson’s Orlando-based aide, Dolly Kobernat, at 888-671-4091, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.