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Please visit Coronavirus stimulus payment scams: What you need to know for the most recent information.

 

As the Coronavirus takes a growing toll on people’s pocketbooks, there are reports that the government will soon be sending money by check or direct deposit to each of us. The details are still being worked out, but there are a few really important things to know, no matter what this looks like.

 

1. The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges. No nothing.

2. The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.

3. These reports of checks aren’t yet a reality. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer.

Look, normally we’d wait to know what the payment plan looks like before we put out a message like this. But these aren’t normal times. And we predict that the scammers are gearing up to take advantage of this.

So, remember: no matter what this payment winds up being, only scammers will ask you to pay to get it. If you spot one of these scams, please tell the Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov/complaint. We’re doing our best to stop these scammers in their tracks, and your report will help.

Keep up to date with the latest Coronavirus-related scams at www.ftc.gov/coronavirus or by signing up to get these consumer alerts. 

Watch these videos for more tips on how to avoid ecomonic impact payment scams:

FTC tips to avoid economic impact payment scams

Updated link added on April 21, 2020.

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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.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • 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.

Don't use your…
April 09, 2020

In reply to by 4dsmommy

I'm in the same situation as you. I've been paying $400 a month in arrears for almost 5 years and show as being current on my arrears payment.
Lftlobar
April 03, 2020
Will People who just started receiving SS retirement in January 2020 need to fill out the IRS simple tax form to receive relief checks ? Or are we covered and will receive the relief through our SS direct deposit debit card ?
JackieLF
April 03, 2020
I am asking for my mother and brother and Thank you in advance. If ex: my mother and disabled brother do not file tax returns (don't receive enough) but their SS checks are electronically deposited - what is required for them to do so they won't have to wait months?
shadow12
April 03, 2020
my husband and I file together with my name first and then his, he owes back child support, will I still get the stimulus check?
miedjo
April 03, 2020
will a person on disability other than a veteran recieve a check? I think this will be for all Americans if all is included in some way or another!
Help
April 03, 2020
I am in collage and did not file because my parents claimed me on their taxes. I moved out in January do I get a check and how would i do that?
LisaA
April 03, 2020
I only recieve food stamps no cash. I am disabled and I applied for SsI I am in appeals process am I entitled to a stimulus check
peggy
April 03, 2020
im wondering how the homeless file that haven't had income in a long time and can they file online also can they file online and how
teebaby1938
April 07, 2020
Can you tell me if my stimulus check will be direct deposited to my Direct Express card? I receive ssd benefits and do not have a regular bank account. My ssd benefits are direct deposited onto my Direct Express card every month.
David garcia
April 03, 2020
Hi o owe money on child support because I was incarcerated and am getting my life on track will they take the full amount away ?
Dan the man
April 03, 2020
I just got out of jail on March 18, I have been applying for jobs with no luck due to the virus. Do i get a stimulus check. and if so how do I apply
Curious lady
April 03, 2020
Trying to find out if I have to file income tax to get the stimulus I'm on disability and I need to know
Terry1012
April 03, 2020
My husband is paying back child support to ex wife that he's been divorced from for 20 +years for kids that are 32 and 35 but we have 2 underage children will the kids get stimulus check or will child support take the whole thing
Kacey100
April 03, 2020
My baby father gets disability checks and they said he don't have to pay child support because he gets a disability check. Do he qualify to get the stimulus? Or shall they give it to me?
rtgentry
April 07, 2020
How do I give the Government by new bank account number?
katiehand88
April 03, 2020
I have a minor daughter who receives ssi, my status and her fathers ‘ ( my boyfriend) status for ssi is still both pending, so as of now she’s the only one in our household receiving ssi... will we still get the stimulus?
Amber
April 03, 2020
I live in a assisted living will they take the 1200 from me
Susan netspend
April 03, 2020
If my taxes went on a net spend card , is that acceptable for the stimulate ck
87aksteel
April 10, 2020

In reply to by Susan netspend

I have been wondering same thing I have not gotten a answer to this question yet either just been waiting patiently to see if it will just be in there this coming up 2 weeks or so , if not we probably going to have to call to get deposited and or mailed out to right account / address, this all gives me a headache , hope it shows up for us really soon , need to pay bills for my family and this would help out with most all bills have left to get through this bs till July ,I dunno how long it's going to be like this sooner Americans get that money the better would be one less thing to stress about for sure , best luck to you and be safe as well .
Struggling
April 04, 2020
I am currently on welfare, I get food stamps and medical. Will I get help from the stimulus ?
A&P Mechanic17
April 04, 2020
It is unfair to give stimulus money to only people with income within certain threshold. Almost everyone needs it, if you're going to give then give to everyone. Right now it's unfair for everyone making above $75,000. Some people are lucky to be well off but other have to work very very hard to get there whereas some earning below $75,000 don't work hard at all and are now seemingly getting rewarded for it.
KIM
April 04, 2020
IM ON SSD WITH 3 YOUNG CHILDREN, WILL THEY BE COUNTED AND INCLUDED IN THE STIMULUS?
V.L. and P.J. Grose
April 16, 2020

In reply to by KIM

Since we didn't file 2018 income tax report, how will our $1200 checks be mailed to us?
TWilson2213
April 04, 2020
Do people on social security disability receive a check???
Don't use your…
April 04, 2020
I have two sons in their 20's. they did not file taxes in 2018 and we claimed them on our taxes. I understand that they will receive nothing and we will not get anything extra for them. One son is working part-time and has filed his 2019 taxes. I believe many people will be left out that need the money. I also have a friend that is not working and is trying to get disability, we claimed her on our taxes also because we provide support for her and she lives with us. They may have to rethink this.
Ray1270
April 04, 2020
My wife and I are separated, I collect SSDI she doesn't....we filed taxes last year...my ? Is will I get a separate stimulus check on my direct deposit info with ssdi....
coopster
April 21, 2020

In reply to by Ray1270

My husband receives SS I don't and we don't file taxes.Will my Stimulus payment come with his or do I need to file on nonfilers
jj7271975
April 04, 2020
I've been drawing if it's after several years now will I get a stimulus check
KTanner
April 04, 2020
Do we have to pay the stimulus check back?
dlc5461
April 04, 2020
to whom this may concern, "i have been paying $155.94 in child support weekly for one child for twenty plus years, and almost never receive a income tax check. after gov. deductions, i barely bring home enough too eat, after paying $200.00 every week to stay at a motel. but because of COVID-19, "I THINK I SHOULD RECEIVE BENEFITS THAT ARE DUE TO ME REGARDLESS OF WHO I OWE. ESPECIALLY IF THE MOTHER OR FATHER, TO WHICH OF THE PARENTS ARE RECIEVING THE CHILD SUPPORT, AND GETTING THE STIMULUS PACKAGE TOO. THAT'S WHY I THINK IN THIS CASE IN TIME EVERYBODY, "I MEAN EVERYBODY SHOULD RECEIVED IT, AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME POST MY COMMENT.
other one
April 04, 2020
I haven’t worked in 9 years and I’m homeless would I get a check
Grandmaster
April 04, 2020
Is there anyway to change the status of the check from mail to direct deposit?
rtkemp
April 04, 2020
Do have to pay this stimulus check back
looking out
April 10, 2020

In reply to by rtkemp

just in inflation. but not directly. its a tax free payment, dont have to pay taxes on it or claim it on next years taxes as income either.
Pammio53
April 04, 2020
Please do you know when we will get our stimulis checks... i went to the grocery store to get my monthly groceries and i was shocked to see i had spent twice the amount than i usually spend... i had to cut back on some bills...thank you
Carolyn Snyder
April 04, 2020
Is there anyway to change the status of the check from mail to direct deposit?
Phyllis
April 04, 2020
Would i get the check too? I'm on SSI
Baugh
April 04, 2020
What if I lost custody of my kids for 7 months last year and do foster parent claim them on taxes but I have had full custody of them since July of 2019 through this new year they claim them on the taxes but I should be able to claim them on the Corona virus stimulus check how does that work?? Please help
elidas747
April 07, 2020
when are we getting our checks from the government
Timichele
April 04, 2020
Will I get my stimulus on My liberty tax NetSpend card or will I get a check in the mail?
Techknowviking
April 08, 2020

In reply to by Timichele

I'm here looking for an answer to the same exact question. I'm hoping the IRS sees the NetSpend card as a regular direct deposit and hopefully we will have money tomorrow.
Don't use your…
April 09, 2020

In reply to by Techknowviking

I’m wondering the same
Jessie J
April 09, 2020

In reply to by Techknowviking

Check in the mail because before the $ went to net spend it went to a third party bank so Liberty Tax got their money alot of people very upset about this. However when irs opens portal go input your bank info.
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