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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 won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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.

janie
May 26, 2020

In reply to by snn

this is ridiculous there is no way to talk to an actually person about any of this , no way. I just get pushed around the site and then end up at the fequently asked questions page over and over till I want to scream. I got the letter and I read where it said we are glad to send you this check or debit card in the amount of . but no check or debit card in the envelope no other envelope in the mail box . still no check or debit card , no way to get any help finding out why , I can not even get a status update cuz my info does not match the irs info as far as personal info goes , so if that means that someone changed the address or whatever in order to steal the check then why did I got that ridiculous form letter , this is really ridiculous chaos and mess , amazon deals in huge volume , they don't have these problems
smchb310
May 18, 2020

In reply to by Don't usadgirl…

I too have yet to see my check or a letter. I saw an image of what definitely looked like a check from the US Dept Treasury in my Informed Delivery Daily Digest. That was three days ago and I never received it! I would say only once has the images of my mail not arrived on the same day. I checked the box for "report missing mail" and hope the USPS can find it. Otherwise I have no idea how to contact the IRS to find out if they can reissue since I never received a letter how to do this either. Very frustrating.
WalterJohnson30
May 24, 2020

In reply to by smchb310

I have not received my stimulus check and it was supposed to arrive on May 4, 2020. I just want to know where is my check
annoyed
May 19, 2020

In reply to by Don't usadgirl…

i have ssi and ssd and have been waiting but nothing no check no info nothing
Faycrid1
May 21, 2020

In reply to by annoyed

My son is on SSDI and has heard nothing either really frustrating he could sure use it to pay taxes and bills
usadgirl1curious
May 29, 2020

In reply to by Don't usadgirl…

ditto in Whittier, Ca. getmy-5.1.20 trump letter/stimulus has arrived-5.14.20 no check mailman is a good friend, said there were some checks delivered in my area, about a 1/2 mile radius, but not many. found thrr pay schedule on the IRS site having to do with the earned income and the dates meaning 0 filed would be sent out on April 1st and the max wild just under 75000 would be sent out in September so sometime between April 1st and September bunny on how much you filed that's the order would be sent out in. I was really worried that my check and got stolen but after seeing that and amount of people that I know who've gotten paid and who haven't and I know a lot of veterans and people who are on disability people who didn't have any income and most of them I literally mean most of them have not received a check direct deposit or paper so I'm just going to hang in there and and continue to stalk the mailman. sorry for the grammatical errors and typos not in the mood to correct all the voice recognition mistakes take care of you posting if you get your check stay healthy and don't die!
Richard Scott
May 26, 2020

In reply to by Cappy

My stimulus check went out on may 1st and 15 days later i received a letter that 1200 check went out i never Recived it can we put a tracer on it ?
Jackie6011
May 27, 2020

In reply to by Cappy

Haven't received my stim check yet, concerned someone else may have gotten it due to mail situations where I live. Mail boxes are not locked, and other tenants have access.
Murph91dave
June 09, 2020

In reply to by Cappy

You need to go to get my payment. Then u could verify if your getting one
Square
May 04, 2020
How would know if a scammer has my payment? The IRS has not named a specific date to send a payment to someone like me (SSDI , plus a small pension, direct deposit, non filer). Get My Payment is not productive. The date the IRS gives to send my payment is May 2020.
usadgirl1curious
May 20, 2020

In reply to by Square

patience you'll get it well I'll get it eventually they only send out so many it's like 2.5 million a week so it's just some weird list that's going in some sort of weird order brand new it's based on the amount of income to get made and if disability filing it for you then it's who knows how that gets sent out but I know people who are on disability who have received it immediately in some alarm display that haven't even had their status updated yet on the website I get my payment so just try not to stress it'll it'll come just some weird order for some reason we're the ones who have to wait
IndiaW97
May 05, 2020
My stimulus check was supposed scheduled to be be sent to the address in file in April 24,2020 I never received it and me and my son really need that money where my check at?
Concerned citizen
May 08, 2020

In reply to by IndiaW97

I received the White House letter," Your stimulus has arrived" date April. 26. The IRS website says my stimulus was mailed April 24. As of May 8, I have received no such check. I hope you get yours soon and mine shows up or the suspected (thief) is caught.
Star38109
May 12, 2020

In reply to by Concerned citizen

Hi I'm going threw the same thing I received a letter in the mail first yesterday but I haven't received a check I'm so freaking lost
iNeedMinez
May 12, 2020

In reply to by Star38109

Same issue here. I received the letter saying it arrived but NO CHECK and it was mailed April 26th‼️
Vickie23
May 13, 2020

In reply to by Star38109

I also received a letter on yesterday saying my payment was mailed on 24th of April I still haven’t receive my check
Amber
May 14, 2020

In reply to by Vickie23

Having the same issue got the letter but never recieved my check that was supposed to be here on April 24th
Fee5270
May 13, 2020

In reply to by Star38109

Same here. I got a letter yesterday but didn't receive a check. I'm confused right now..
Tyron
May 12, 2020

In reply to by Concerned citizen

I'm having the same issue got the letter but no check wat should I do
Demitria Neel
May 12, 2020

In reply to by Concerned citizen

Same.... I may lose my place of living cause of all this.
Brenda
May 14, 2020

In reply to by Concerned citizen

I just received a letter saying that my money has arrived but I have no check I only have a letter so what do I do about getting my check
DP
May 05, 2020
How would I know? System won't allow me to see if I'm getting a check! I'll see the balance in my checking but so far nothing SSDI/SSI
Mandie2
May 06, 2020
Recently got a letter addressed to me and my husband so I opened it, it said that are check was deposited in are bank account and it had the total. Me and my husband do not have a joint bank account and are currently in the beginning of a divorce I have had my own bank account are entire marrige and no relief check has been deposited in my own account so I'm wondering if he applied for it and was paid the money for me and my two sons that are not biologically his and are my sole financial responsibility. I pulled my credit report today and seen that last year he applied for a home equity loan under my name and using his phone number and I was never told of this, I think he has been stealing my information and applying for things online. At this time its vary scary financially and I would really like some answers to why he got a check in my name if I'm not on the account? Its money I need for my boys and me that I cant access because it's in his account.
FTC Staff
May 06, 2020

In reply to by Mandie2

You can report the identity theft (using your information to get a home equity loan) and suspected theft of your stimulus payment at www.IdentityTheft.gov.

IdentityTheft.gov will ask you questions and complete an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (IRS Form 14039) for you, and send it electronically to the IRS. You can include a personal statement to give the IRS details about how your identity was misused to claim your economic impact payment.

As you enter information for the IRS, you are also reporting the identity theft. The system will give you an Identity Theft Report and a plan for what to do to repair the problems. When you have the Identity Theft Report, credit bureaus  must honor your request to remove fraudulent information from your credit report. This is called blocking. Once information is blocked, companies can’t report the debt or try to collect it from you. There are sample letters in www.IdentityTheft.gov you can use to write to credit bureaus.

furious foster mom
May 05, 2020
I’m a foster parent and the child stimulus was given to the bios instead of me. Can you report on this link if the child stimulus was deposited to the wrong person? If not then who can I report that to?
FTC Staff
May 13, 2020

In reply to by furious foster mom

If someone used your Social Security number or personal information to get a stimulus check, file a tax return, or get other benefits, you can report that at IdentityTheft.gov. 

Yu144
June 05, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

What happens after reporting this? When do we receive communication for the next step to get back what was stolen from us?
Deborah
May 08, 2020
I was notified by the Social Security Administration (I am on SSI) on March 20, 2020 that someone had opened up two bank accounts in my name (one of them in Guatemala). This was BEFORE the announcement was made about the economic stimulis due to COVID. I went on line after talking with Soc. Sec. within a matter of days, and I did not report anything about the possibility of a stimulus check theft because it was unknown at the time. So now when I try to "get started" on the FTC website and hit the button that says "someone stole my stimuls check" when I log in my email it takes me back to the original complaint I filed with the FTC for identity theft only, not stimulus check theft. I found the IRS affidavit elsewhere on the web and filled it all out and made the necesary photo copies of my social security card and state identification- but the I.R.S. fax number will not answer, so I will have to MAIL it, adding at least another week if not more to put the stimulus check in motion, I think. I am one of the last people to be promised a benefit check- I am on SSI, and I had to wait until the May 5 deadline for SSI recipients with children to take a child credit, even though I do not have children. Now I will have to wait even longer. Confusion is very painful.
PissedOff
May 08, 2020
I was suppise to get mine the 24th via mail and still havent fot it 15 days later and no check no letter...nothing...im worried someone stole it..
Maddii23
May 18, 2020

In reply to by PissedOff

I have also not received for me and my wife. Was mailed out on 24 got a letter saying we sent u money but no such check did u get urs yet?
mac
May 08, 2020
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MINE YET BUT EVERYONE I KNOW EXPECIALLY WITH MY LAST NAME HAS???
Christopher
May 08, 2020
Hello my stimulus says it will be delivered on the 4th but it is not here it's the 8th now I don't know what to do someone please help.
KINGS KID
January 07, 2021

In reply to by Christopher

The same thing is happening to me. They said it was deposited into my account on the 4th...not there. I called bank no deposit made
Xavier
May 08, 2020
I received stimulus check and promptly mailed it to my credit union. They say they never received it. What do I do?
Scott M
May 20, 2020

In reply to by Xavier

I did the same thing at Great Lakes Credit Union and they said they never received it, even after 12 business days. They are very unprofessional about it too, basically saying "just call the IRS and have them re-issue a check"... WHAT? So someone just gets off with stealing a check with no investigation?!
Rockenwolf41
May 13, 2020
I’m lost. My taxes for 2019 have been done for 45?days. I look at the www. irs/ Coronavirus.com, where’s my stimulous payment and it shows my stimulus check was deposited into account I used for tax refund through turbo card intuit visa debit card. Irs shows the correct last 4 numbers of this account.m, but no 1200. I’ve contacted turbo card by email several time and twice I got a vague response telling me to Hinton it’s website???? Irs says I need talk to bank? I’m not able to talk to it’s due to limited staff and time. The bank staff don’t care or won’t do their jobs.HELP IM STRUGGLING AND REALLY COULD USE THAT MONEY SINCE IM OUT OF WORK. What do I do?
Divorced
May 09, 2020
What happens when your ex spouse gets your stimulus check deposited into their bank account and won’t give it to you? Will you prosecute them?
Same boat
May 14, 2020

In reply to by Divorced

No direct deposit but I have been asking my soon to be ex where is the check that was sent and he ignores all my questions. Mailed to my former home, his current residence. I am very concerned he hijacked my check!! I have thought about taking my concern to his bank branch and claiming fraud to ask them if my name was signed to it without my knowledge since it is a govt issued check and that would constitute fraud.
FTC Staff
May 20, 2020

In reply to by Divorced

You can 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 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.

Jim H 38053
May 26, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Has anyone in your office actually tried to go through the steps that you are describing in order to report the theft of their stimulous check? It sounds like people are hitting a brick wall. That does not leave a very flattering memory of your agency.
DannyB
May 09, 2020
I got a letter in the mail saying my stimulus money had been direct deposited but it had to have been in my ex-wife's account not mine. How can I get my money?
curious
May 13, 2020

In reply to by DannyB

Dis you find out anything? The same thing happened to my brother!
Lela Warledo
May 15, 2020

In reply to by DannyB

my daughter had some sign up for my check she out me on her account I didnt know her and her friend file for me I never would have put my check on her account how long will it take to get my check some one use my grandson on their tax e y cmy grandsoh has been livimg with with me since he was one
FTC Staff
May 20, 2020

In reply to by Lela Warledo

If someone mis-used your personal information to get your stimulus check, that is identity theft. You can report that to the FTC and the IRS.

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 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.

kdrss42020
May 09, 2020
what do i do if i think someone stole my stimulus check from my mailbox? i recieved the letter they send after the payment but i still have not recieved my check. the irs portal said the check was scheduled to be sent on april 24th 2020 and if i have this letter then my check should be here. I dont know who to contact about this.
rich
May 11, 2020

In reply to by kdrss42020

I’m in the same position as you, did you find out any new information?
Esmith88
May 11, 2020

In reply to by kdrss42020

Same exact thing here....is it stolen or still in the mail??