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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.
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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.

MlorenaR
March 30, 2020
If my husband owes child support from a pass past which idk how if the his 2 kids from his past relationship lived with us most of there lives and now all of a sudden we receive a letter that he owes 82,000 dollars of child support when they lived with us most of the childhood (I have proof) and they are living with us now. WE HAVE FILED TAXES EVERY YEAR AND NOW THIS YEAR 2019 SAYS THAT HUSBAND OWES CHILD SUPPORT. MY HUSBAND IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WORKS. AND HE supports my 5 year old autistic son,our 11 year old son,his 19 year old daughter from his past relationship , his 18 year old son from his past relationship and myself .Does that mean we wont qualify because we file together (I dont work) ? WE REALLY NEED IT. IF ANYONE IN THE IRS IS READING THIS PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. I DONT THINK ITS FAIR THAT WE LOSE THE HELP BECAUSE OF FALSE INFORMATION ALL THESE YEARS. I ALSO DONT UNDERSTAND HOW ONE STATE (MIAMI,FL) CANT GET IT RIGHT WE LIVE IN NJ AND HAVE SCHOOL RECORDS, PRIMARY DOCTOR RECORDS ECT. THIS ISNT RIGHT
Danette
March 30, 2020
My husband owes back child support and hasn't worked in years, how will this effect me?
Skye10
March 30, 2020
I I don't get social security and I don't work will I get a check?
Ar12345
March 30, 2020
what if a father lose his job two weeks before the out break and he start to owe childsoport must he stay home and die for hunger because he is not getting a sitmulus check?
Jennifer A Wallace
March 30, 2020
I am on ssi and I am disabled and want to see if I am going to receive a check. Or if child support block me from getting help during the pendimic. I have joint custody papers for five months I received them.
Toni
March 30, 2020
I live off of surviving spouse pay. I do odd jobs when available. My tax lady said I'm considered poverty level. And don't need to file taxes. Do I qualify for a stimulus check.?
Steph
March 30, 2020
Iam my kids payee will we i get checks ?
MBrady
April 14, 2020

In reply to by Steph

I have the same question, mine came but it was only for the $1200, I have 3 kids.
FTC Staff
April 16, 2020

In reply to by MBrady

If you want to claim the $500 payment per child for your qualifying dependents under age 17, you can use a new web tool from the IRS to give basic information to claim the payment per child. It's on irs.gov/coronavirus under "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Information Here.":

Luis Solano
March 30, 2020
Thank ya because we need it especialy with this viris.
elyankee72
March 30, 2020
Am on disability and disabled from my arm and suffer from epilepsy and stomach problems right now been have problems cause my insurance don't want to giving me my stomach medication cause they say I can buy it over the counter ,I don't have the money to be buying these medications and I need them , the only way sometimes I can buy my medication is buy trying to collect some plastic bottles to buy and even doing that is had for me ,and now that we must stay inside to do our part it's not helping me at all , it's not right that Mr trump. Would leave us out to dry with nothing we need help to , I have sold my stuff to be able to get medicine and food to be able to survive it's real hard for me like all those who on disability, I don't want to be selling my stuff it hurts.
nkb
March 30, 2020
We are retired military-27 years. My husband is a facial surgeon and cannot do the surgeries he has scheduled through June. Half are Medicaid/Medicare we do for free because they pay nothing. The other half will cause us to lose almost half of our salary and patients can’t be seen. A retired Full Colonel and our son veteran of Middle East conflict and Ebola hospital. How do we get part of this package? His patients are suffering, we are suffering, just like the hairdresser, small businesses, and daycare. My daughter is forced to go to work with our granddaughter because her company is a small supplier to our military. No daycare ,that most young families can’t afford anyway. Her husband, a police officer getting spit on coughed on and much worse. They stand to lose everything everything. We have our sons tuition to dental school, 80,000$ each year. He evacuated an embassy under fire in the Middle East. Navy retracted his last tuition for this semester. This is how service members are treated? We may make more than some, but we have bills just like everyone else. How do you sign up. The website is maze that no one can navigate.
EveT0418
March 30, 2020
Ive been out of a job for 5 yrs due to a roll over car accident and have been fighting my SSD I am on Long Term Disability through my old job Still. Will i be able to receive a Stipulus Check Also?
Ali2019
March 30, 2020
We recently moved and I can't get through to social security to put in our change of address. But we receive SSI through the direct Express card will they apply the stimulus payment to the card.
SR
March 30, 2020
I am 60 years old and my daughter who lives with me claimed me on her taxes because i wasnt required to file because I only had a small amount of income. I have filed my own 2019 taxes with a small amt of investment income. Will I still get stimulis money?
Jb8450on't use…
April 14, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Can you tell us if the stimulus will go on direct express
D#16789
March 30, 2020
Are people in disability going to be getting a stimulus check and if so will they be placed on their direct express card?
rfig37
March 30, 2020
Good morning, I’m a non custodial parent who sends money to my children’s mothers every other week like clockwork however, I allegedly owe back child support. With our current crisis at hand I have no time to go to court to sort things out. Why would the fed not help EVERYONE in need. Any other debt is gonna be overlooked because of a national emergency! Covid 19 hasn’t skipped my family just because I owe a debt. Why would I not get the bail out like everyone else
Dobigjim62n't …
March 30, 2020
We get r social security deposited on a debit card will they beable to deposit the 2020 stimulus check onto the same debt card the direct express account
Cornelius k Smith
March 30, 2020
Who do i get the check
Marcy Clark18
April 10, 2020
Very glad to read this I have scammers like that calling me all the time about 8 Christmases ago I actually fell for thinking if I sent 200 I would get 1000 so sad
Gabbie
March 30, 2020
Will I get my stimulus refund on my netspend liberty tax card that's how I got my taxes for 2019
DJ
April 14, 2020

In reply to by Gabbie

No they said you have to go through their online portal on Friday and update your banking info. In the irs website
Kellie Cochran
March 30, 2020
The past few years I've gotten income tax money in check form. Therefore, I have heard if you've received the check form for income tax that this will be the same for the checks that we will be getting here within the next few weeks. I would prefer If at all possible getting this check direct deposit. How can I get this done if at all possible?
Ej
March 30, 2020
Does deadbeat parents checks go to the parent raising the children.?
Kathryn T.
March 30, 2020
I live on SS & SSI I GET 2 checks per month. I live on 900.00 a month, approximately how much will my stimulus check be??
Oliviaaa
March 30, 2020
If i was just released from prison will i receive a stimulus check?
Pregnant mama
March 30, 2020
What about pregnancy? Is that counted as a child under 17?
Shaneisha.ss98
April 10, 2020
Hi i was just worrying if my ex husband wife filed taxes and filed injury spouse and they in a household of 5 do u get some of the stimulus check if he pays child support
Dallascowboys4
March 30, 2020
Will my stimulus check go on my direct express card. Im on SSI
Ohioray
March 30, 2020
Why is it that if you owe back support will not get a stimulus check this should not happen because we are struggling like the rest of the world work hours have been cut an not sure how I can pay my bills
Tntabby
March 30, 2020
Will those owed child support receive their x's stimulus check?
poodle
March 30, 2020
i get my husband ssa check i am the payee i dont work will we both get a Stimulus check?
Lindsay G
March 30, 2020
My friend hasn’t filed His taxes for 3 years; is the stimulus check contingent upon him filing? If so, is it too late?
Jmora
March 30, 2020
What will happen to those that are veterans and also receiving their SSDI benefits and are married how will that work ?
Shivendramarch
April 10, 2020
I was a non resident alien for the year 2018 and 2019 but now i am a resident alien. I filed my 2019 taxes as non resident alien. Am i eligible for stimulus benefits? What about my wife. I filled my taxes as married filing jointly.
Kzdzfd
April 07, 2020
I had a baby in 2019 will the check include the 500 for my child?
Loverman5304
March 30, 2020
If I have a rep payee for my ssdi will I get the same payment of the 1200
bmildo75
May 21, 2020

In reply to by Loverman5304

I am a authorize representive for someone will he get his stimulus check he received ssi
Concerned
March 30, 2020
Will custodial parent get stimulus check or the parent who filed the child on their taxes?
Lisa
March 30, 2020
I have a question I already filled my tax but have moved I’m having a hard time updating my address and my check from republic bank gets sent to my tax preparer so will stimulus check go there ?
Mmaldonado06
March 30, 2020
I'm 24 and never had a job and barely moved out on my own, no one can claim me on their taxes, how do I get a stimulus check?
mlacey
March 30, 2020
my Husband just recently passed away we both were living on his retirement and did not file taxes, because Iam only 57 so can't collect off his SSD , I did apply for SSI because I cannot work do to my own health and it is pending, will I get a stimulus check?
Weezie2
March 30, 2020
In the event that we get the stimulus due to the coronavirus, and your direct deposit account was closed after you filed your taxes for 2019. What do we need to do? or how will it be handled?
Made N Texas (…
April 13, 2020

In reply to by Weezie2

Hurry up and immediately put ur direct deposit info into the irs portal so they can deposit the funds into the bank!
LindaCoop72
March 30, 2020
People, if you have a question, google your question. I don't think the irs is answering your questions. I have been googleing questions all day. Even a homeless person with no income, if they are a us citizen and has a social security number can get the stimulous money, but they have to file a tax return to be counted for it.
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