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You’ve probably heard the news by now – the government is sending out relief checks as part of the federal response to the Coronavirus. Scammers heard the same thing, and they’re hoping to cash in on yours.

The details of how this will all work are still coming together, but we do know a few things about how this will – and will not – work. For now, here are some things to know.

  1. You don’t need to do anything. As long as you filed taxes for 2018 and/or 2019, the federal government likely has the information it needs to send you your money. Social Security recipients and railroad retirees who are otherwise not required to file a tax return also do not need to do anything to receive their money. If you otherwise have not filed taxes recently, you may need to submit a simple tax return to get your check. (More on who’s eligible here.)
  2. Do not give anyone your personal information to “sign-up” for your relief check. There is nothing to sign up for. Anyone calling to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security number, PayPal account, or bank information is a scammer, plain and simple. Also be on the lookout for email phishing scams, where scammers pretend to be from the government and ask for your information as part of the “sign-up” process for the checks.
  3. To set up direct deposit of your check, communicate only with the IRS at irs.gov/coronavirus. And you only need to do this if you didn’t give the IRS your bank information on your 2018 or 2019 return. In the coming weeks, the IRS will be setting up an online form available through irs.gov/coronavirus. But nowhere else, and never in response to an email, text, or call.
  4. No one has early access to this money. Anyone that claims to is a scammer. The timeline for this process is not exact, but it looks like funds will start going out in the next few weeks. Scammers are using the lack of detail to try to trick people into giving their personal information and money.

To get official updates and more information, visit the IRS’s page on economic impact payments. And if you come across a scammer trying to take your check, we want to hear about it. Report it at ftc.gov/complaint. 

Updated 4/2/20 with new information on filing taxes

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Zackary
April 20, 2020
So my father-in-law filed my taxes this year and he has direct deposit in his account. It says on the IRS website that my stimulus check was deposited on the 15th! My father-in-law is saying that the bank has no record of my check being deposited! I've called the IRS hotline which tells you whether or not your wages are going to be offset and I have no debts! What could be the reason for this other than my father-in-law committing theft.
juan51
April 21, 2020
Hi, I will like to know what should I do if I received my relief check for the 1,200.00 dollars but I have a dependent child and I didn't received his relief fund. I claimed him in both 2018 and 2019 tax forms.
Wenifreda Zapatero
May 06, 2020
Why my refund not yet recieved and also stimulus check
Spunone
May 06, 2020
Whats weird is that i filed my 2019 taxes, got my return via direct deposout, but the "wheres my payment site" says that they are going to mail it to the address they have on file, why dont they direct deposit it like they did my return?
fppks1341
March 17, 2021
can a sister claim a brother living in same house as a dependent an recived check in her account is this leagel
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