Skip to main content
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.

Topics
Shopping and Donating
Health
Jobs and Making Money
Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

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.

josephgbess
April 14, 2020

In reply to by curiousmind2020

I am being audited and can’t speak to anyone or get the info that is asked of me. What do I do?
Irishgirl25
March 26, 2020
Will you get a Stimulus check if you owe back taxes. And since I owe back taxes I don't have recent bank information and I would like to have check deposited instead of mailed How do I give you my bank info
Screwed again …
March 26, 2020
Why can't anyone just give us a direct answer. I'm on disability will I get a check. If no is the answer that is stupid. Your giving people 24 he more in unemployment where I have paid high taxes and as over the years and I do not get, and most people on SSI , do not get that much monthly. So because we are retired we are screwed. Have to file taxes, guess what our government does not pay us enough on SSDI to file taxes. Is this my fault, no it is not. It is your fault so do not punish us because your cheap
Denniseg
March 26, 2020
I filled with my husband but he is not a citizen. Will I be getting a check?
picarelli
March 26, 2020
What if I haven’t filed taxes for the last 2 years yet, if I do it now can I still get the stimulus
Philly Dude
March 26, 2020
The package just passed the senate and the house of reps should sign off on Friday. From what I read, SSDI, SSI and disabled Vets should get the full $1,200 check plus $500 per child. I did see on one site that those getting cash welfare payments will also be eligible. Essentially anybody getting govt checks will get a check. Those making $99k or more won't get one. Also undocumented aliens won't. Those without a working ss number also won't.
Kev195861
March 26, 2020
Will people on disability get a check ?
Aflores
March 26, 2020
If u just had a new born will he count for the additional 500?
Paul
March 26, 2020
What if my address has changed how will I get a check
Mobetta
March 26, 2020
If I owe back child support will they take me check?
Bmw650ifast
April 25, 2020

In reply to by Gary777

no. If you owe back child support you will not get a check.
Beezo
March 26, 2020
How can I get my govt stimulus check directly deposited
Brad C
March 26, 2020
If I did not have a job in 2018. But had a job in 2019 and have not filed my 2019 taxes yet will I get a check?
jabennett77
March 26, 2020
Will young workers who entered the workforce in 2019 get a check if the determining factor is your 2018 tax return?
Don't use your…
April 03, 2020
I am 74 years old I get SSI I get 13,000 a year will I get a status check
fl single mom
March 26, 2020
DIVORCE SITUATION QUESTION: In divorce right now. Laid off from job at a school, single mom, soon to be ex husband only gives so much a month that's not even enough to pay all my bills & had to beg for money this month to be able to buy milk & bread. I would qualify by myself especially being a single mom, that's makes very little. But for past 10 years we filed jointly and the past 6 years while he worked in China & now working in the UAE he made more than the stimulus check qualifies for. But that's him, NOT ME and we are almost done with divorce. Do I get disqualified from check because of him...? He obviously doesn't need it, but how does that work for me?
Contejvmom
March 26, 2020
Will people on ssd get this corona virus stimulas check not ssi and do not do income tax?
Jamesjack
March 26, 2020
People on ssi will they receive government checks
M Morgan
March 26, 2020
Why can't these web sites just answer a question with a yes or a no? Are people who receive SSD getting a check from the covid 19 stimulus? I don't declare taxes, but, have also been hit financially. You can't "stock up" on a fixed income. You can't budget, on a fixed income. Must buy what is available. Also, unfortunately, my new stove broke. It took a month to get anyone out b/c no one is working b/c of virus. So, that costs more, to have to go pay for prepared food. I don't have enough to make it through, b/c of the virus, how do I not qualify, being way below the poverty level?
Jennifer
March 26, 2020

In reply to by M Morgan

I think the current bill includes you. However, no one can answer anything until we have a bill pass the Senate and the House and then it has to be signed by the president.
MARI
March 26, 2020

In reply to by M Morgan

I agree.. I am in the same situation.. they totally forgot about all of us.
charlie6495
March 28, 2020

In reply to by M Morgan

Yes you will receive a stimulus check. The amount follows the same guidelines as the rest of the US citizens. If you are single, you will receive $1200.
mjava
March 29, 2020

In reply to by M Morgan

im sorry to hear of your unfortunate predicament..from the info you provided ..it sounds as though you qualify for liheap(fuel assistance).. a certain portion of their funds are set aside for emergencies..such as this..please contact your State/city office to convey your situation..they should be able to help..good luck
Court2083
March 26, 2020
Will child support take my stimulus? And I am not working, will child support force us to pay this month?
Moby
March 26, 2020

In reply to by Court2083

You'll get what ever you qualify for. It's useinfg the IRS databse for addresses
Greywolf0941
March 28, 2020

In reply to by Court2083

I also pay child support. In the fact that it's coming from the IRS the refund ,then I would assume yet they will take it towards your child support if you are in the rearage. And yes you still have to pay child support unfortunately. I've already asked my lawyer about it also
mma1266
March 28, 2020

In reply to by Court2083

Child support is the only allowed offset so if you owe arrears they will take it
Ar12345
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Court2083

this is unfair to the fathers who try to pay child support and now this happen! the gov need to answer that question.
rusty
April 11, 2020

In reply to by Ar12345

That’s what I’m saying too. So the people arrear child support that pay towards it every month on top of their regular child support payments don’t need help right now? It’s definitely discrimination if u ask me.
Lynn 66
April 19, 2020

In reply to by rusty

What is BS is how they are making the wife of the husband who owes child support pay it. They took all of mine not just his all of it. This is unfair and I hope they don’t do anymore stimulus checks.
Don't use your…
March 26, 2020
I am 74 years old I get SSI I get 13,000 a year will I get a status check
Pinky 102
March 26, 2020
I have a friend that has a DACA work permit. She works for the same company i do. Got hired on full time in January. Will she be able to receive the stimulus package?
valmoe$1
March 26, 2020
I retired Sept. 29,2018 from the government and had worked there for 39 years. I am not getting Social security just a retirement check. Will I receive a stimulus check
Higgins73
March 26, 2020
Will people on SSDI receive a stimulus check?
Doc.Grossi
March 26, 2020
Will people on disability be getting a check from the government with the coronavirus situation going on?
cblucas3
March 29, 2020

In reply to by Doc.Grossi

What about those on government benefits? And those with no income? Yes, eligible folks include those with no income, as well as those whose income comes entirely from non-taxable means-tested benefit programs, such as SSI benefits. I’ve seen a lot of confusion about this: it’s because one of the original proposal limited the checks to those who earned income. This is no longer the case. (From Forbes.com)
Tony
March 26, 2020
Just got custody of my son back in February 2020, but my wife claim him on the 2019 taxes return ,should I be getting a stimulus check for him??
Tony
March 26, 2020
Just got custody of my son back in February 2020, but my wife claim him on the 2019 taxes return ,should I be getting a stimulus check for him??
Someone2
April 14, 2020

In reply to by Tony

I have the exact same question. The only thing I can find says to talk to your lawyer about your options.
kk22261
March 26, 2020
I'm retired disabled, we I receive a check
Luciano Lopez
March 26, 2020
Just moved to new home how will they kno to send to right adress plz inform filed income with old adress but have new home and adress
Don't use your…
March 26, 2020
If I owe child support arrears will they take part of my stimulus check?
Lisa
March 26, 2020
My Husband and I a separated and this will be the 1st year I am filing as single . I no longer live with him in the home and I make well under 75,000 and I am a essential healthcare worker. How will I get my check? thanks
L. Hale
March 26, 2020
I have full custody of my 16 year old. who lives with me full time because his dad lives in another state. According to my divorce papers, I can claim my son on even years and my ex claims him on odd years. If this stimulus check is based on 2019 filings, does this mean I won’t receive anything for my child. I filed head of household with no dependents for 2019 (although my tax papers show that my 16 year old resides with me). Who receives my son’s $500? If my ex receives it, I can’t guarantee he’d do the right thing and forward it to us. What do I do?
Jennie
March 26, 2020

In reply to by L. Hale

I have this same question. But I heard they are going off of 2018 taxes. I claimed my son in 2019 but not 2018. I wonder who we contact
HazelNuts
March 26, 2020

In reply to by L. Hale

Just had this conversation. I think they go off no later than 2018 tax year. My boyfriend claims his other daughter every other year too so we are figuring on 2 checks for kids. We'll see!
TLF
March 26, 2020
If my child had a bad break up with their ex and the ex still has the bank account used to file 2019 taxes, how can my child make sure the money doesn’t go into that account? My child’s name wasn’t on the account, but their tax return was sent to the ex’s account in February.
Return to top