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Do you think your economic impact payment has landed in the hands of an identity thief? You can report it to the FTC and the IRS at the same time. Here’s what to do.

Visit IdentityTheft.gov, the government’s one-stop resource for people to report identity theft and get a personal recovery plan. Click “Get started.” The next page asks, “Which statement best describes our situation?” Click the line that says, “Someone filed a Federal tax return – or claimed an economic stimulus payment – using my information.” You’re on your way.

Logo: Coronavirus Scams: Tips from the FTCIdentityTheft.gov will ask you some questions so that it can complete an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (IRS Form 14039) for you, and submit it electronically to the IRS. You can include a personal statement too, to tell the IRS details about how your identity was misused to claim your economic impact payment. You also can download a copy of your completed Affidavit for your files. And, IdentityTheft.gov also will give you a recovery plan with steps you can take to help protect yourself from further identity theft.

Use IdentityTheft.gov to report suspected identity theft only. If you have other concerns about your economic impact payment, visit the IRS’s Economic Impact Payment Information Center and Get My Payment Frequently Asked Questions pages for detailed, and frequently-updated, answers to questions. You also can find information here about payments that the IRS may have deposited to an account you don’t recognize.

Whether you’re waiting for your payment, or even if it’s already arrived, keep alert for scammers trying to steal your personal information, your money, or both. Remember, the IRS will not call, text you, email you, or contact you on social media asking for personal or bank account information – even related to the stimulus payments. Also, watch out for emails and texts with attachments or links claiming to have special information about the payments. They’re fake, and they may be phishing for your personal information or might download malware to your computer, tablet, or phone.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

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We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

ldcookman
May 04, 2020
Will the reporting be separated for refund and stimulus id theft data, or will they be combined and assumed to be 1 type vs. the other based on the timing of the reporting by the victim?
FTC Staff
May 05, 2020

In reply to by ldcookman

Whether you want to report identity theft involving your tax refund, or identity theft involving your stimulus payment, the IRS requires you to complete an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (IRS Form 14039) to report the fraud.

When you fill out IRS Form 14039, you can say whether you’re reporting tax refund fraud or stimulus payment fraud. The IdentityTheft.gov system will take you through the steps to fill out the IRS Form 14039, and it will send the completed form to the IRS electronically for you.

Donnapop100
May 21, 2020

In reply to by mike23872

I I'm on Social Security SSDI I was supposed to receive my check early in the month of May I haven't received my check and I believe somebody may have stolen my identity to receive my check because I can't get through to the IRS so I don't know if they still processing a check for me or not but according to according to the website or the portal or the online portal they are saying that they don't have any information on my status can you help me
Raypro05
June 03, 2020

In reply to by Babygirl15

Me too. I’m on SSA. I enter many time to track get my payment showing my information doesn’t match to our record wondering what does that means. I still not received stimulus check yet.
NurseNora49
June 25, 2020

In reply to by Raypro05

I am on Social Security and filed 2018 taxes and 2019 not due till 7/15. When I go to “Get my payment” it says I qualify but when I put in banking info (same for past 11 years) it says the info does not agree with their records. It is 6/25 and I have not received payment. I have called the suggested phone numbers and to no avail — no help. What should I do, contact my congressman?
Destany
April 21, 2021

In reply to by NurseNora49

Same problem when I first tried to get my payment with the IRS and you have to enter in the debit /credit card number that you used the last time you filed your taxes
Menasseg65
January 03, 2021

In reply to by Babygirl15

I did not receive the previous payment of 1200 dollars stimulus and the current 600 dollar payment i am a citizen since 1986 and have work history for 40 years i file for retirement benefit in August 2020 i received my first retirement benefit Dec 31 2020 but not my stimulus cheque why i am treated differently there shouldn't be double standard
Burns1977
May 25, 2020

In reply to by Donnapop100

I am on ssdi and have not received my stimulus check. I believe it had been stolen
Don't use your klwsr
June 22, 2020

In reply to by Burns1977

Im on SSDI also. I never could get thru the portal to find out if and when I was receiving it. Just last week, a letter arrived from DJT, then another letter arrived saying my check went to child support arrears. They took the entire check.
LLL
June 24, 2020

In reply to by Don't use your klwsr

Can you please tell me who you received both letters from please? Also, your comments are posted on June 22,2020. Was it the week before that date, you rec'd both letters? Tyvm
Foxtrot88
August 27, 2020

In reply to by Donnapop100

Fill out the affidavit for fraud and tell them when u make a statement exactly what is going on. My check was stolen too and they are sending one in 2 days. Took about 3 weeks to get notification.. I'm very impressed with the handling of this situation...
Haven't heard …
April 13, 2021

In reply to by Foxtrot88

Mine was stole to i did the affidavit and did explain what happened and i havent gotten any thing or notified . And it says you couldnt set up direct deposit on this one well the person who ever it was that stole it did into my own chash app acount and some how it was deposited 5 days before it said it was to be thats what made me see what was going on because i knew i did not set up direct deposit cause the first 2 i got in the mail . Now its been over 3 weeks and have not heard a thing about it . I am so upset about this and i cant call them about it either i dont know what to do . Or who to talk to about it
john_sail2000
August 30, 2020

In reply to by Donnapop100

On ssdI, check was mailed in May to a designated address, but was never told that I got the check.. I'm afraid that it went to someone I was supposed to be trusted, but I never got a penny.. Some dispeckable person stole my check and cashed it.. Is there anything I can do ?
Needanswers
November 03, 2020

In reply to by john_sail2000

Hey im almost in the same boat. My ex was my payee and she got my stimulus after I moved out. Did the trace payment thing and discovered she did receive and cashed it and never said anything. Now I need to find out who to contact about her doing this.
Sheliblu
April 29, 2021

In reply to by john_sail2000

Did you get you money and did you find out who stole it ? Mine was sent to a friend address that I trust but now im not sure I still have not got it?
Ccj0198
January 20, 2021

In reply to by Donnapop100

I had to go through this. It means you want be receiving a stimulus check. So you need to do the form 14039 and 5then go in the IRS portal and do a simple tax return
Clydesdales
May 29, 2020

In reply to by mike23872

Same in eastern nc. . Irs says it Mailed out on Gmail but nothing whats up with this????
thebeastmerc
May 30, 2020

In reply to by Clydesdales

it says on the get my payment portal, that my check was mailed out on May 4th. Well 3 weeks later I get the letter you're supposed to receive, after you get your check. I call the IRS # and the lady said you have to wait 4 weeks to report it lost. I'm calling back in a week. Who knows how long it's gonna take to get my check now?
Rosie
June 01, 2020

In reply to by thebeastmerc

I am in the same situation as you! But I call the IRS and they don’t even answer the phone. Can I ask what number did you call to talk to them?
Tawanna B.
July 11, 2020

In reply to by Rosie

I used 18008291040 and they helped me... I'm waiting on them to trace my lost or stolen check which will take up to 6 weeks I was told!!! That's what I don't like...
Asia L
October 05, 2020

In reply to by Tawanna B.

My stimulus check was stolen as well and i sent in the replacement check form over 2 months ago and still didnt get a letter a call a text a email a nothing
Lindalopz
February 08, 2021

In reply to by Tawanna B.

My stimulus2 was direct deposited in the GO2bank I checked on it plenty of times by using my SSN and DOB I lost my card a new one was supposed to be sent to me but I never received it and when I checked on again using my SSN and DOB it was gone. Can anyone help me?
Deedaa
June 02, 2020

In reply to by thebeastmerc

Which number did you call? Mine was sent out on the 1st and I haven’t received it and I can’t find a number to call that has the option to speak to a live representative.
Viviana.rodriguez2
June 09, 2020

In reply to by thebeastmerc

What number did you call I can’t get anyone on the phone
Roxx210
June 06, 2020

In reply to by thebeastmerc

I have yet to receive my check but I have received the confirmation letter and the "Get my payment app" says my check was mailed May 1st, so I'm assuming my check has been lost or tossed away as junk mail, I cant get through to a live representative with any of the numbers provided- I just need to speak to a live rep, to figure out where my check is
Rick7
March 07, 2021

In reply to by Haley2020

Someone is stealing i haven't got a single stimulus payment or my tax refund now im about to get evicted i dont know what else to do i have not got anything who is stealing from me
happy
June 09, 2020

In reply to by laurenalford44

The number to call is 800 919 9835. The same number on the letter. That number was not manned (politically incorrect?) before but a later comment by 1gmilk in this board said that it has a life person now. I tried today and it went through. I did not understand why previous people commenting just said that they talked to someone but silence when someone keep on asking to provide the number. Like they want to rub it to your face. Good luck.
Rosep
June 15, 2020

In reply to by thebeastmerc

Mines said since April 29 mailed out n nothing yet they apparently put a track on it n if I don’t get it in the mail in 4-6 weeks then I can file for fraud on who ever point is if it hasn’t been cashed yet they replace it with another one in the mail
Dennis rolland hurd
June 29, 2020

In reply to by mike23872

One of my" friends " heidi brown helped me with filling out for my stimulus money and then she changed all of my info to her info leaveing it in my name but to her bank card and she reseved ir on may 8th 2020 and thwn she told me she spent it all how can i get her to pay it back or how can i get a replasment check on this money she stole ?
FTC Staff
June 30, 2020

In reply to by Dennis rolland hurd

If you think an identity thief got your stimulus payment, report the stolen check and create an IRS affidavit at www.IdentityTheft.gov. Click "Get Started" on the first page. On the next page, click on the green bar that says "Someone filed a Federal tax return - or claimed an economic stimulus payment  - using my information."

Fill in what you know to create an identity theft report and IRS Identity Theft Affidavit. The system will create a list of steps for what you can do next.

mmarrrryyy
January 18, 2021

In reply to by FTC Staff

My identity was stolen as someone filed 2019 as us as well as our first stimulus was deposited to their bank account. We filled out all the forms last year when the taxes were done and still have no money for either. What next??
WHITNEY_PATTON2005
January 31, 2021

In reply to by mike23872

I think someone has direct deposited my stimulus check
Elizabeth
June 13, 2022

In reply to by mike23872

I'm been struggling for a while wonder why I haven't got one stimulus or economic impact payment, not one payment maybe someone stole it

Gregory m Reed
June 13, 2022

In reply to by mike23872

Never received my economic stimulus check filled it with taxes and they said im not due one must be stolen

Regina79
July 07, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

A known person has admitted to me that she took my stimulus check and is now broke .She helped with my taxes and used her bank account to receive my empact money none as my stimulus check .what can I do to get money put on turbo card sent to me and this woman for theft and furgeing my money she claimed.
Out of luck an…
August 25, 2020

In reply to by Regina79

I also had a girl do turbo taxes for me and got my stimulus check and would not give me any of it I have filed 3911 and 8211 for change of address and to start a trace and contacted identity theft and the inspector general of the Treasury Department and still, I don't know anything about it so what can I do
tuntun13
January 21, 2021

In reply to by Regina79

hi, something similar happened to me, my brother help me claim my kids and he kept half of the returned tax money and also the stimulus checks... have you got your money back , or did a police report or something ? i need help don't know what to do
Lexi
June 28, 2021

In reply to by tuntun13

Did you get your money back??I hope so.I would call the IRS on him!
helpinglilsister
July 13, 2021

In reply to by tuntun13

Did you find anything out? My little sister's boyfriends mom claimed her and her daughter. My sister got none of the 2800 dollar stimulus that she was supposed to receive. They didn't give her a dime
Jheny
June 01, 2020

In reply to by ldcookman

I lived in la habra orange county, someone stole my stimulus check and Account's...
Wayne
June 17, 2020

In reply to by Jheny

I had a similar incident . What happened? What was the aftermath of someone stealing your stimulus ? Where u ever able to figure out who did it ? Because I really think someone may have stole mine , a family member who roommates with me . Advise ?
Bigmommadee2020
May 04, 2020
My stimulus payment went into someone elses account not mine what do i do and i had a child on mine so i didnt get nothing at all which sucks for me
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