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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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Shyman
January 07, 2021
MY Stimulus money is going to my ex -Girlfriends bank account.. and i couldn't change my direct deposit info to receive it on my own ..She's keeping all the money knowing i pay for rent and bills and live on my own . What Do I Do?
So mad
January 07, 2021
Someone claim me as a dependent on their taxes and now they have not one stimulus check of mine but two and I'm afraid that by the time I file my taxes for 2020 I ow e student loans and I'm afraid that they will get taken by the government please tell me what to do or if there's any information thank you. I have reported it but I've gotten nowhere and have no answers
Tignerproud
January 11, 2021
Both of my stimulus checks was sent the same bank account that I dont have any idea who it belongs to ,I've already put trace on them but it's been long time still haven't heard back There as to some idienty fraud going on what do I do if my brother stolled my information and got my checks deposited into his back account, Do i need to get a lawyer and will I be able to get a refund
Reginald r gaddie
January 11, 2021
Me an my wife been separated for two years, she has taken my stimulus check, an cash it without my hand signing the check, im a recovery stroke patient, i need my part of the money to pay on behind bills, i need med, she take my money an kids!!
Anonymous1234
January 11, 2021
What if my pre-paid card was delivered to my old address? Can the new residents activate and use my EIP card?
Robert Johnson
January 12, 2021
I am disabled and I had a WOMAN by the name of Tiffany. She routed my stimulus check to her account and i received NOTHING. I have not seen here nor did I approve or agree to her actions.
Adam
January 14, 2021
My first stimulus check went to Childsupport but my son's mother claims she never saw it either. The get my payment site is saying BOTH clothes first and second round checks have been mailed to my mothers address ... but I DID receive a letter on about the first one informing me that it was forwarded to Texas attorney general's off ice first the owed support fees...even though legislature says they can not garnish the second round payment...if for some reason I don't get my 2nd check and have to make a claim for the tax rebate then they can garnish it because it will then fall under tax return not the hero's act...
Don't use Shaw…
January 15, 2021
My check was sent out on the 8 still have not received in mail?
Katb08
January 15, 2021
My friends stimulus check went into another friends account, and she refuses to give her her money. What can she do to get what she's entitled to
Don't use your…
January 16, 2021
My ex-boyfriend who has no relationship to my daughter has stolen both of her stimulus checks and I can't get anybody at the IRS to fix it. And with a possibility of a third round coming I can't get them to remove her social security number from his account help nobody at the IRS helps
Lost in Lafayette
January 18, 2021
I checked with the Get my Payment and it says it was mailed on January 6, 2021. It is now January 18 and still nothing. How do I check on that?
willissa cannon
January 18, 2021
my check is stolen by greendot bank. it was never posted to tell me that it is there. when i called about 3 times the phone operator kept saying that the check was positeddecember31st. i screenshotted every conversation asking about my check and the lies they told about the check not being deposited. my recieved his but my got held and taken.today is january 18th
SAMIED6975
January 20, 2021
L have had both my stimulus payments stolen from me, I filed a form 14039 the first time with the I. R. S. Do I have to fill out a second form for the 2nd payment that was stolen from me?!! I will say this though, if the I. R. S. Done their job the first time, I would have never had my 2nd stimulus payment stolen from me . I will also be seeking legal advice in this matter.
Thegrymmcreeper
January 22, 2021
They said mine was mailed out on the 6th and I ain't seen nothing yet so I think somebody stole it
topaz
January 22, 2021
didn't receive my check someone stole it from my mail box or fro the postal office ..cause i saw the mail on my phone that i was to receive and i received all my mail except my stimulus check
Bridgette
January 23, 2021
Someone I know falsely claimed me and my child on their 2019 return and has been receiving all the EIP that I should be getting. How do you resolve that?
SOS
January 23, 2021
I can not get any help from the IRS. I tried to get a stimulus payment and used the non filers tool. I tried to make an account and it wont let me I contacted the IRS and they say someone tried to file taxes in my name. It was not mw. Why didn't they notify me I have made all the reports they asked me to It has been 6 months I still have not received any correspondence from them.I did not receive a stem payment because of this now I've missed the second.I call and get put on hold for hours just to get transferred to a line that disconnects me EVERY TIME. I'm sooo frustrated I need help.
1kristi2
January 24, 2021
My kid's stimulus went into their dad and stepmother account. They are separated and she took my kid's stimulus and spent it. She refuses to give it to their dad or me. I don't know who to report this to.
RVDutch
January 25, 2021
Submitted a report on 4/23/20 with follow-up inquiries. Not one single reply, none, zero, zilch. Now out $1000 and not even a phone number to call.
ck1950
January 26, 2021
I also had my stimulus check stolen for the 2020 year that was to be direct deposited to my account someone at the IRS added extra numbers after the account (0123) the bank sent it to the department of tresuary #310. And i also did receive the may payment and also am on ss
Mandi
January 29, 2021
I got my stimulus check in the mail and then the very next day I went to cash it and the financial company said that the check had already been cashed. I have the check in my hand how could this happen
Mandi
January 29, 2021
I have filled out the fraud report and they have sent it to IRS but nobody has contacted me. I do not understand how it is possible for someone else to cash my check that literally came in the mail a few days ago
mamabear08
February 04, 2021
My son soon-to-be ex-wife claimed my sons stimulus check, both of them, while he is incarcerated. What can he do to get reimbursed?
AquariusEarth
February 04, 2021
I am on SSA by I'm also a divorced mother of 3 (of which are solely supported by myself) and I don't file taxes. I didn't get a payment from the 1st or 2nd stimulus disbursements. And it was brought to my attention someone may have claimed me (fraudulently) rendering me I eligible. I need help desperately. I have not been Ble to get in touch with the IRS since attempting to just track my 1sr payment.
bmcqueenbrown
February 07, 2021
I got a notice my check was being deposited. On 1/4 I received an envelope from IRS with a piece of tape on back. Inside envelope was a post card for my neighbor. Took to post office and they said they would send to government. I see no instructions online as to who to notify or email. Note: I have photo of items.
FTC Staff
February 08, 2021

In reply to by bmcqueenbrown

This blog explains what to do if you think someone stole your stimulus check. Go to www.IdentityTheft.gov to report to the FTC and IRS at the same time.

MangunT
February 08, 2021
Last stimulus check for my son and his wife went into her bank account. Now the divorce is final as of only a couple of days ago and my son has not received his stimulus check. Which everything I am reading most likely went into her bank account. Of course she has NOT bothered to tell him and he received nothing and she most likely received double because it was NOT hers. How do you report you no longer are married and this does not continue to happen? What can we do to get it back? Thanks
M Roman
February 09, 2021
My ex helped me file for and receive first stim check using their bank acct for the direct deposit. The second stim came after we broke up and it was difficult to get in touch with them but i received it after some time. How do I change this so IRS has my current banking info?
Kitkatt11o1
February 11, 2021
Who do I speak to about reporting fraudulent activity about receiving stimulus money for kids that aren't that persons??
Loutaay
February 12, 2021
What if someone like a ex claims your check and your children what do I do
rtownley001
February 12, 2021
Reported identity theft to that website in April 2020 and have never been able to get a reply. I have a dependent grandchild that someone claimed as their dependent even though the child has lived with me full-time for 12 years. So far we are out $1200 - both stimulus checks. No phone to call, no email reply, no response at all. The site does absolutely nothing to help.
LoveCaregiving
February 13, 2021
I am what's considered a Kinship Caregiver and I had the children in my home from December 2018 to January 2020 and they were returned to me again in September of 2020. The birth mom has claimed them on taxes last year and this year. She has already received stimulus payments and will receive future stimulus payments for children that do not live with her. I could really use these payments to assist me in providing for the children. To whom do I report this to so that no further payments be made to her?
Lynn
February 16, 2021
I did the form for IRS and this app. They still deposited the 2nd check into this girls bank account! So nobody cares that people are filling out the non filers form and stealing the stimulus? And if we get another stimulus she will just get that too ?!? Really sad.
Me
February 18, 2021
Can I pro-actively check if my SSN is being used to receive any kind of Federal benefit? So that I could look for fraud early and report it?
Bieni
February 20, 2021
I just received notification 1444 B that a stimulus debit card for $600 was issued for me because I applied using the Non-filers tool. This is fraud. I did not do this. I will report this as identity theft. Does this mean the money is lost and I’ve been cheated or can I get the check that should come by mail because I have never used direct deposit?
hestonc141
March 08, 2021
My old payee stolen both of my stimulus payment and never gave my money I think she should pay back and got to jail for taken some didn't belong to her
deedur402
March 08, 2021
My son is incarcerated in prison and his ex girlfriend received his stimulus check .She was supposed to have mailed it to him. He never received it and we think she may have cashed it illegally. How can I help him and stop her if she gets another one in his name
Sasha gillespie
February 27, 2021
I had identy theft and require some kind of identy pin I can't get and I haven't got any of my stimilous checks yet it's not fare
Dopatrick mcdo…
March 08, 2021
I was in prison and and need of the so little help we get when released I thought when I came home I would find and great blessing and I'll have money to get on my feet and start a new life. Well some one stole my stimulate check and don't no what to do
Divorced
March 10, 2021
I recently got divorced and my ex-husband forged my name on my stimulus check and cashed it for himself what do I do?
marsh1468
March 10, 2021
How does this affect you if someone filed a 2021 tax return fraudulently with my social security number? I have mailed a physical copy of my tax return to the IRS along with our Form 14039 as instructed, but my concern is, if that person who filed the return with my information submitted it with a different bank account number, will they collect my 2021 stimulus payment?
JJohnson
March 12, 2021
My ex husband has taken my daughters stimulus money ever since the Covid started and she's not his biological daughter. He doesn't take care of her, I do. I'm trying to turn him in for fraud.
Morganca71
March 13, 2021
I just received my Stiimulus check auto deposit stole my money out of my bank Please can you help get it back
Lilmiss418
March 13, 2021
My ex boyfriend cashed my stimulus check without my knowledge..he has admitted that he spent it. What did i do?
Gilmore
March 14, 2021
My personal information has been stolen ( social security, date of birth and address where I currently reside) by a scammer posing as a job recruiter/ hiring manager/ supervisor from a company overseas (Eneco/ Netherlands) I check the status of my stimulus check and it says it’s being processed to an account ending in 5881. that is not my account ! This person not only stole my personal information but file a false tax report in my name. It’s Sunday and I cannot reach the IRS on phone, it says the payment is scheduled for the 17th. I hope it’s not too late.
Jenni
March 14, 2021
My stimulus payment went into a bank account that I have no access too and the person won't give it to me and won't answer there phone or texts so what do I do about it because I need that money
Nannycarmody
March 14, 2021
When I did the get my payment thing it had the IRS logo on it and looked official. Then it told me to sign in. I hit do not know user name because I thought I. maybe had an account from last year. I sent email address for a verification number. Which I didn't get. They said to verify with the last 4 numbers of a credit card debit card or bank account. I knew then it was fake. Others my not. How do I report this
Peteboushie
March 15, 2021
Some scammers, an "agent", named tom manning posed as one of my friends on messenger, saying that my name was chosen for a payment for some covid 19 aide. He said i needed to send a copy of my i. d. To receive it. So i sent it to him. After that he wanted me to pay $1000 for fees. Naturally i said im broke so i ignored him and he sent me 77 texts, which i nvr read. So now they're messing, and intercepting all of my texts and info im sending or receiving from the IRS. Now i dont know if they re-routed where my stimulus is going. They are after it bad. How can i stop them from doing this?
Kittykench883
March 17, 2021
$1,400 Cinemas payment made into my account and so on stole it from my account after the payment was made into my account the next minute it was gone I got a screenshot right what went to
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