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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.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • 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.

Cindy lololo
March 20, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Hello will u answer the question on if SSI will get a check
Don't use your…
March 25, 2020

In reply to by Cindy lololo

Yes. They will get it 2
Jamieee
March 28, 2020

In reply to by Cindy lololo

Yes Anyone On SSD Or SSI Will Get Money.
Daddy
March 26, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

What trusted news outlet none of them tell the truth
Just me
March 21, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

From what I hav have read, those who have filed a tax return this year or even last year and are under a magic number of income will get a direct deposit into the account last provided to the IRS at tax time. If you did not file because of no wages file anyway and enter all zeros then you should get the money. If you had refund loan or did not provide a bank account you will get a paper check mailed to you. So to sum up if you filed a tax return then yes, if not do so promptly wven if you had no taxable income.
Johnny Jim jam
March 21, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Will 30 percent disabled veterans get the pandemic relief?
AG
March 21, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Chapter 61 retirees (Medically Retired with less than 20 years of service) already has been paying their own disability dollar for dollar to collect VA Disability. It is a disgrace to all veterans. The veteran(s) should never be overlooked for any type of benefit, to include any type of stimulus bill! God Bless the veterans of the USA, because they all made sacrifices some people cannot comprehend.
Cameo
March 27, 2020

In reply to by Sherry lanier

Will I get a stimulus check while I'm getting 30. a month SSI through direct deposit along with 773. social Security check?
Gilbertmichael
June 03, 2020

In reply to by Sherry lanier

If i have been making child support payments and my children are grown. I am retired and am a Veteran. I am disabled. Why is my stimulous check offset ?
Mariac901
March 22, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

I hope we so this effects us also! We are in need of things also, this would be a gr8 help for us all
Carolyn Bess
March 23, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Will I receive a stimulus check also even though I'm on SSI?
Patricia Ibarra
March 25, 2020

In reply to by Carolyn Bess

How will we know if we are getting the check? I am on medical retirement and social security disability? Will it be direct deposit? How will they know where I live?
DannyLR
March 24, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

I'm a disabled Viet Nam Veteran. Will I be included in the stimulus package
Detricky58
March 25, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Will those on SSD,and SSI disability get the 2020 stimulus checks
CatinDisguise
March 26, 2020

In reply to by Detricky58

I'm on SSDI, will I receive a stimulus check?
Debs N
March 27, 2020

In reply to by Detricky58

I also want to know I barely get enough SSD & SSI, to live on not counting necessities
Don't use your…
March 25, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Will disabled vets getting compensation get the checks
Don't use your…
March 27, 2020

In reply to by Don't use your…

im a a widowed of my deased husband i get a va pension check can i still the get the stimulus money
Don't use your…
March 25, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Will disabled vets getting compensation get the checks
Gutz
March 25, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

DV's received small checks back when Bush did something similar but I can't answer your question, DV's can spend a little extra money to help stimulate the economy as anybody so I don't see why not. Maybe even purchase something we normally couldn't afford with our stipends. I could use a new pair of boots myself, yes it gets that tight being a disabled Veteran most of the time. Utility bills have been extra painful this year.
roger garcia
March 25, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Under the stimulus package, will va disabled veterans already receiving va payments receive a $1,200 payment and also receive a separate $1,200 payment if presently receiving social security?
MollyM
March 25, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Why should we get a stimulus check? We aren't losing any of our income. These checks are from people who work and can't work because of the virus.
Joseph Grasso
March 25, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

I am a Viet nam veteran on disibility will i still get a virus check
Capt Dan
March 26, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

No, us military veterans who are receiving any type of VA Disability check, will most likely not be included in the distribution of these checks. We are always overlooked, misunderstood, and underappreciated for service to this country that we so dearly love.
Mikehale629Don…
March 27, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

I don't know.....I receive a 10% service connection monthly....I filed my 2019 taxes online yesterday just to insure that they had my correct direct deposit information because in 2018, Inhad a different bank account, I'm also no longer at that address so I updated that when filing my return electronically. Even though the government has my DD information via my disability, I don't know if that is the route they will use. I have NEVER received a stimulus because it either went directly to back taxes or student loans. Yeah a lot of help those payments were, but my understanding is that this coronavirus stimulus will NOT go to pay those debts. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Eddie
March 27, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

I'm 61 yrs old on VA disability, will I be eligible for stimulus check
Jerrinity n't …
March 30, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

I am disabled and have been so for 15 years. I have severe chronic pain that is worsening to the point that I’m having trouble walking, I some shake. I started working at 13 years and had to stop at in 2015 do to two neck surgeries that only made me feel worse. My question is will disabled folks also get a check from the government ?
Jerrinity n't …
March 30, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

I am disabled and have been so for 15 years. I have severe chronic pain that is worsening to the point that I’m having trouble walking, I some shake. I started working at 13 years and had to stop at in 2015 do to two neck surgeries that only made me feel worse. My question is will disabled folks also get a check from the government ?
ladysolo
April 03, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

i will like to no will social security get this money and when and how would it come if u on social security
govanminia50
April 10, 2020

In reply to by DCHART

Will stimulus check go on a Jackson Hewitt card they gave me when I find my taxes
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