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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.

Dvet
March 26, 2020
Im a disabled veteran will i get any stimulus package money?
mother to a di…
March 26, 2020
I’m my daughters payee who is under 18 , she is disabled and on SSI. Im a stay home mom & I don’t have income. Would her or me be considered to get the stimulus check?
hkante19
March 26, 2020
Thank you for the information
asshol92
March 26, 2020
Will seniors who are receiving disability or widow's benefits get a check from the 2020 stimulus money??
Randy912
March 28, 2020

In reply to by asshol92

Seniors and disabled do get the stimulus relief check
LisaW
March 26, 2020
Will people who are current on child support, but owe a back amount get the stimulus? His tax returns are garnished, but he also files with 3 dependents (me and my 2 kids).
Notadaddy
March 27, 2020

In reply to by LisaW

Unfortunately the government is discriminating against child support debt. It is discrimination because the people that is owed the child support is getting a stimulus for the economical offset. This stimulus is for sufferage and to help people survive this pandemic. They should be sued.
yikes
March 28, 2020

In reply to by LisaW

wondering the same thing, although it feels silly that they'd take the tax refund that JUST passed along with the stimulus.
CF
March 26, 2020
If child was born in 2020 do they qualify for stimulus? And will parents have to fill out additional documents as they are not on 2019 tax returns?
Jeff Geer
March 26, 2020
I divorced last year so, this years taxes were not set up on direct deposit. I want to know if there is away to get my bank info to IRS so my money will get deposited to bank account rather than being mailed??
KarateDude
March 26, 2020
I was a minor in 2019 and now have a part time job where my income was nearly cut in half here recently. Will I get any relief money?
She
March 26, 2020
How long you have to wait if you dont have direct deposit
Medina
March 26, 2020
What if I was in jail during 2018? I started working in 2019 and now laid off due to the cornavirus. Will i get a Coronavirus stimulus
Iloveshebalynn…
March 26, 2020
I'm on disability, will I get a check?
Tbanker
March 26, 2020
If you were incarcerated in 2018 but released in 2019 and worked do you qualify?
TC007
March 26, 2020
Checks will help, but what if you owe child support? They are already taking my income tax if any. Does this mean these checks will be sent to them as well? I have kids that I provide for too. Help FTC!!
melody
March 27, 2020

In reply to by TC007

Yes they will take it as well! So unfair for people like me who do not owe but are married to someone who does! They already took 7400 from my tax return, now they will take my children's money AGAIN!!!
Tippy28
April 11, 2020

In reply to by melody

I think I can file for injured spouse so I can get your part of the refund.
Jduggins
March 27, 2020

In reply to by TC007

We are in the same boat. He has child support is completely up-to-date and gets taken out of his buy weekly check but he still owes some arrearages they take his taxes every year for this is an emergency check to help Americans/employees laid off due to a national disaster; is it fair to take their check for child support when they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing now?
Nelson775
March 26, 2020
Will people on food stamps get stimulus help,?
Detailz76
March 26, 2020
I recently got married last year and my wife , step daughter and step son do not have ssn as of yet since they're still going through the citizenship process. The last step is the interview which is in April to obtain a SSN! It is very difficult for me being self employed and one income for all of us and the $1,200 just for me will not go very far for me and my family. Please someone tell me what I can do if there is anything I can do? Thank you in advance
JDavis89
March 26, 2020
I just had my daughter January 3rd, 2020. She's already gotten a social security card. Will she be eligible for getting a stimulus check of $500?
Daniel wardell
March 26, 2020
Are we gonna get any of the relief money from the government.im on SSI and ssa
tjs636
March 26, 2020
How will the government know where to send my check?? I filed 2019 tax return but I’ve moved from that address and I didn’t have direct deposit either.
Deejay
March 26, 2020
I'm on social security disability,so the president is prejudice against us as not getting the necessary help like others who are rich.
aichan
March 26, 2020
I had my baby in January 2020 so he's not listed on my refund. How will that be taken into account if they're basing it on the 2019 taxes?
Chucky8325
March 26, 2020
If I'm off child support but still owe pass due, will I still get a check or will that money go to child support???
MARY L.
March 26, 2020
I move 4 years ago back to the USA. I get a very little disabelaty pension from Germany. Am I getting a Check from the goverment to? I am a USA Citicen.
Lundmart
March 26, 2020
On Today this morning, some lady from the Treasury dept said YES RETIREES AND PEOPLE ON SS WILL get a check.
Pino
March 26, 2020
Thank you for the notification. This is why I appreciate what you do for us.
cleh59
April 03, 2020
I receive ssdi and my daughter adds me on I cometax for a dependent will she and I both receive the 1200.00 dollars thank you very much for being here answering all our questions
Kimberlee
March 26, 2020
I have full custody of my grandson and claimed him on Taxes, will I get for him also ?
NCcurious
March 26, 2020
I am happy to hear about the stimulus checks being approved but my concern is, what about the people who is awaiting disability approval ? We have no income at all other than family members whose taking care of us. Do we qualify, will we get a stimulus check???? I am one who has been waiting almost 2 years to be approved for disability! We should not be excluded from this stimulus relief check because we are definitely in need!
SDMF
March 30, 2020

In reply to by NCcurious

Same situation, waiting to be approved for disability & have not filed taxes in 2018 or 2019. I hope we are not forgotten!
Pamela
March 26, 2020
I was not working in 2019. I started this year part time. Will I get any of the stimulus check?
Child support
March 26, 2020
If a person owes back child support are they eligible for the stimulus check? Or would it get captured?
Robert
March 28, 2020

In reply to by Child support

Its gonna get captired from what i read on nbc.so our exs get rich and we have to suffer.
Pat1425!!!
April 09, 2020

In reply to by Robert

I get if you owe arrears taking income taxes I get taking it out of the checks weekly bi-weekly or however you're paid this is a disaster relief fund I do NOT see how they can take it when it's supposed to insure survival so we are still punished and starving to death with no jobs no money for rent no money for utilities no money for food no money for anything so not only will be homeless now but we can't afford to buy food or medicine if we need it this is ridiculous I don't owe any future support just arrears and now I'm subject to get kicked out and starve bc of this it makes no since at ALL it disgusts me honestly
Reac Chavez
April 12, 2020

In reply to by Robert

Ok im for the whole no child left out and whats owed is owed my issue is my whole return 3,292 was all taking all of it . I have full responsibilities to two of my 3 children and 1 one I don't have custody of well either does the mother !! Now with no work for a little over a month now (as a server, mind you) my scenarios keep getting worse and worse . Lord knows I can muster up and survive, but with 2 grade school yea a kindergartener and a 2nd grader whom I have given my portion of food for are stuck with no food, no state assistance and on top of that my unemployment is also set to be taken by half due to back child support. Again I want my daughter to be set but What about my 2 boys do they suffer or do I atleast get to keep their share seeing i claimed them in 2019. Please help me understand why the government is content with keeping my full tax return and not 3 weeks later keeping my stimulus during this Pandemic??
Smalls6
April 14, 2020

In reply to by Child support

If you owe back child support you will not get a check I've looked on every site and we will not get the stimulus check..hope it helps..
mickfly78
June 10, 2020

In reply to by Child support

I feel the people that owe back child support doing these times it's hard for everyone. I feel like the people that owe back child support is apart of this epidemic covid-19 like everyone else and should be able to receive something like everyone else Because like they say we all in this together right.
ted
March 26, 2020
more than likely if you are on disability only and no other person in the household working more than likely you wont get 1 as you probably never made enough to file income taxes. Same thing when Obama did a stimulus were the bottom of citizens in America the ones scraping by so we wont get it .
dg1018
March 26, 2020
They say you get the check the way you file your 2018 taxes..i did file electronically but, my banking info is not the same, how will i receive my check then when it does come?
Ally2020
March 26, 2020
What if I had a baby since 2018? Will I still get the extra $500 for a child?
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