Consumer Alert
You’ve probably heard the news by now – the government is sending out relief checks as part of the federal response to the Coronavirus. Scammers heard the same thing, and they’re hoping to cash in on yours.
The details of how this will all work are still coming together, but we do know a few things about how this will – and will not – work. For now, here are some things to know.
- You don’t need to do anything. As long as you filed taxes for 2018 and/or 2019, the federal government likely has the information it needs to send you your money. Social Security recipients and railroad retirees who are otherwise not required to file a tax return also do not need to do anything to receive their money. If you otherwise have not filed taxes recently, you may need to submit a simple tax return to get your check. (More on who’s eligible here.)
- Do not give anyone your personal information to “sign-up” for your relief check. There is nothing to sign up for. Anyone calling to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security number, PayPal account, or bank information is a scammer, plain and simple. Also be on the lookout for email phishing scams, where scammers pretend to be from the government and ask for your information as part of the “sign-up” process for the checks.
- To set up direct deposit of your check, communicate only with the IRS at irs.gov/coronavirus. And you only need to do this if you didn’t give the IRS your bank information on your 2018 or 2019 return. In the coming weeks, the IRS will be setting up an online form available through irs.gov/coronavirus. But nowhere else, and never in response to an email, text, or call.
- No one has early access to this money. Anyone that claims to is a scammer. The timeline for this process is not exact, but it looks like funds will start going out in the next few weeks. Scammers are using the lack of detail to try to trick people into giving their personal information and money.
To get official updates and more information, visit the IRS’s page on economic impact payments. And if you come across a scammer trying to take your check, we want to hear about it. Report it at ftc.gov/complaint.
Updated 4/2/20 with new information on filing taxes
199 Comments
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In reply to I did not file my taxes for by Aaron
Please go to the IRS page about economic impact payments for official updates and information about who is eligible.
In reply to I did not file my taxes for by Aaron
In reply to I am a single mom who has no by Concernedparent
Please go to the IRS page about economic impact payments for official updates and information about who is eligible.
In reply to Julio4335 soy veterano y al by Julio4335 de email
In reply to I need to know.if my stimulis by Lisa J Curry
In reply to How can I update my Direct by Seekinginfo69
Please go to the IRS page about economic impact payments for official updates and information about how to give bank information to the IRS.
In reply to Im on SSD and I recieve my my by DoDKn't use yo…
Please go to the IRS page about economic impact payments for official updates and information about how they will send the payments.
In reply to Please go to the IRS page by FTC Staff
In reply to Can you use a relative, such by Shoeless
In reply to No he recibido mi cheque de by David ayala
In reply to If my partner filed my taxes by Mandy_13
Please go to the IRS page about economic impact payments for official updates and information about the payments.
In reply to Won't the stimulus check just by Pocket
The Social Security website has this information for people who get Supplemental Security Income payments:
"Please note that we will not consider economic impact payments as income for SSI recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months."
Go to irs.gov/coronavirus for information and updates about the payments.
In reply to I received a SMS from the by Aline
Thank you for sharing this warning!