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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.

Chris riker
March 28, 2020
I find it very upsetting that to the fathers that still pay child support at a time like this including there back payments are not going to receive relief on top of us men working or out of work that are being affected
Jenny00
March 28, 2020
Whom do I report scam to.i got taken by small store owners for my EBT Benefits.
Debbie62
March 28, 2020
I’m on SS Disability. Do not have to file taxes. Will I get a stimulus check?
Tiajuana
March 28, 2020
Will ssi checks come out early or it normal time
Babec97
March 28, 2020
I'm on disability will the government use that checking account that they use?
lm328
March 28, 2020
My husband owes child support to his kids with previous wife, not to his own fault. But we are married and also have 4 kids together. We both lost jobs due to the virus. Will all of the stimulus check go his ex wife for the back owed CS? Or is it just the part that he would get? It isn’t right that all the funds would go to he including the ones for our kids.
Brandy
March 28, 2020
So I'm 100 percent permeantly service connected Disabled veteran and it says I owe child support but the bank won't let my disability be taken, it says I'm protected. Since this is so...is my family here still get this bail out check, cause I take care of 3 children and my wife, they are my dependence...I have uncontrollable seizures and PTSD from what our country did to me...if I don't get this check thing I'm going to sue our government for what they did to me!!!!
Fred627
March 28, 2020
Is it true the stimulas can be taken for owed child support. We currently have joint custody and he pays back payments weekly, but we have another child and my husband is laid off with less than half of our normal income. The stimulas is supposed to help if they take it we may loose our house. How is it helping our family if they take it all.
kristin
March 28, 2020
If I filed as a qualifying widower for 2019, would this be considered married or single? I have two kids under the age of 16 also
Vivian desens
March 28, 2020
Me and husband both receive social security checks will we both get our own stimulation check
Bon jovi@88
March 28, 2020
I'm so confused do people on ssdi need to send anything in to get the check
MJH ,can a pri…
March 28, 2020
MJH. Can a prison inmate receive a 2020 Stimulus check if they have a Social Security number , if so can a parent file a application for that prison inmate .
Crystalp
March 28, 2020
Why the poor not getting the check but the rich is that not right
republic_gaurd
March 28, 2020
My wife and I have divorced recently, leaving me with the 3 children at this time. I closed my joint bank account from previous tax refunds in June. Will the stimulus check be routed to my current bank account or mailed to me for the children and I?
Texas angel
March 28, 2020
I owe back child support, but am current on my payments. Will I still not receive the stimulus check?
Concerned
March 28, 2020
Will persons living in low income housing have to pay some of their stimulas for rent?
Buddy
March 28, 2020
Will child support take our stimulus check?
aztraveler
March 28, 2020
so if i owe arrears in child support even if i am current I will not receive a check. How are we supposed to survive with no money coming in? So my kids mother who has 4 kids to 4 different people is going to get a nice paycheck.
Just a hard wo…
March 28, 2020
Question, if I owe arrearages in Child Support. Will this stimulus check be taken from me/intercepted? My family is in need!
Blakiee
March 28, 2020
Anyone Who Gets SSD Or SSI Will Get Money.
Mmenekosha1
April 10, 2020
My husband owes child support and i filled head of house hold they took a portion of my taxes but my husband filled married but separate .I'm wondering if this going to effect me and my son getting the stimulus package
FlyingEagle
March 28, 2020
How will they know the address of the Stimulus Check Recipient, my yearly income is where I need not file tax returns. How will you obtain my current address ?
Katgirl
March 28, 2020
If my child’s father is in jail, and $30,000 behind on taxes will I receive his stimulus check?
Mrcomp61
March 28, 2020
I have been disabled since June of 2017 and am currently receiving SDI, while currently waiting to receive SSDI DETERMINATION thru legal representation...does this entitle me to receive government stimulus pay out money?
Don't use your…
March 28, 2020
Why doesn't the treasury department use direct express to give 4.5 million people there checks it is very safe for those people who don't file taxes every year the money is also desperately needed for those folks who are disabled and don't usually file taxes I think they should use direct express card thanks rhey
Bananarama
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Don't use your…

They are using the IRS to send payments out based on 2019 taxes filed and if you filed 2019 tax return using direct deposit then that is the bank that the money will go to. If you are on social security then the social security administration is handling those. If you get direct deposit Of your social security check then that will be the bank that the money will be sent to. Otherwise you will have to wait longer for a paper check to be sent to you.
Pino Gonzales
March 28, 2020
I have changed of address if I do get check were will it go or how will I get a notice
aaronea43
March 28, 2020
i owe back support for child and i have another child who i jave full custody of..will my childs mom i owe support for get the 500 i would get for my younger child i have in my custody????
singlemommy
March 28, 2020
I have had my daughter back since the end of last school year me and her father have shared parenting but she lives with me and goes to school here I am in ssi I believe her dad filed her in his taxes last year who will get the $500 check for her ????? Would not be fair if he did since I ya e had her almost a year in my home
Owed back chil…
March 28, 2020
I’m owed over $20k in back child support. My ex husband hasn’t filed any tax return’s for over 10+ years, because he received a letter stating that his return’s would come to me. Will I receive his stimulus check for the back child support that he owes?
007
March 28, 2020
If i owe the irs money and am on a payment plan, would i still receive a stimulus payment?
Bananarama
March 30, 2020

In reply to by 007

Yes you will. The irs is temporarily not collecting already established payment plans starting April 2nd I believe until a day in June (not sure what date) however the monthly interest will still accrue. So you don’t have to pay your monthly payment from April to June if you don’t want to.
saruet
March 28, 2020
I am currently owed $64,000 in back child support. If the payer did not file taxes last year, will I still receive the payers stimulus payment?
Lanaculbertson
March 28, 2020
I draw a little ssi ck and little ss ck..both totals $802 so will i get a ck for 1200 or not
knmiller
March 28, 2020
How do I tell the irs to not put the money into my bank account and just mail it? Also since I’m married but legally separated would they mail the check to my spouse?
Father
March 28, 2020
If I owe child support will my stimulus check be offset
Bananarama
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Father

Yes they will take it. Child support is the only offset that hasn’t been waived temporarily
Tinalstim
March 28, 2020
Will people receiving widows benefits SSA receive a stimulus check
cm25bellen
March 28, 2020
So I owed 2500 in back child support.. and 1400 dollars got take state keep 300 and 1100 got sent back to my old lady and me cus w together again.. I read online that they would only take it if u owe over 2000... so what I’m asking since I don’t owe over 2000 anymore well they still take the check the government sending to everyone?
Emn5607
March 28, 2020
My son was born January 2020 will he get a check?
Survivor
March 28, 2020
No definitive information can be found from any news sources. Instead go to the SS web page then to my SS. And sign up for news alerts. They haven't posted any news. But we all should receive the payment. It makes no sence to exclude us. I have been looking in depth.
Dtbone656565on…
March 28, 2020
i work 40 hours a week i am a full time employee but im still on ssi but i do not receive any pay from ssi am i eligeable
Acewells77
March 28, 2020
If you have custody of your grandkids do you get the extra $500 for a kid and not the parents
SteveJ
March 28, 2020
What if I owe back child support and am paying it down but I also have my wife and three kids at home who do not deserve to suffer because of me. Will they still get money
jessica032671
April 23, 2020
I do not old child support but my husband does well I’m in my children be eligible for the government check I am fine right now to get my taxes returned to me because I took him because my husband all the back child support it’s not my kids there has his kids
Government for…
March 28, 2020
I dont understand how they say their helping all involved when clearly u owe childsupport arrears you not gonna get help. Interesting when u pay child support but when ya fall on hard times they always seem to make it look like where not paying the bill lol we need help in a crisis matter to we dont count
Bananarama
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Government for…

I fully agree. If you have been making your payments on time even though the amount owed may still be considered arrears then they should allow us to get the stimulus check. It would take many calls to the governor’s office to try to get them to stop child support office from offsetting it but doubt that the child support office would do that even with a pandemic going on. The money you pay is for the care of the children. Besides the stimulus is not free money and you may have to pay it all back on 2020 taxes based on annual gross income.
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