Skip to main content

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.

  1. 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.)
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

Search Terms

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.

leashchristine
April 03, 2020
If you have no tax income will you still get a check
Toño
May 28, 2020
Hola podrian ayudarme me llego mi cheque pero se rompio por accidente y no e podido solicitar otro como puedo solicitarlo ??? Saludos
Aaron
April 03, 2020
I did not file my taxes for 2018 but i did for 2019, will i qualify even though i haven’t file my 2018?
morgan
April 15, 2020

In reply to by Aaron

Have you found anything else out about this because im in the same situation
John
April 03, 2020
What if the person is not currently in the country?
Alexis
April 03, 2020
I have not been able to work for 2 years do to medical problems. The last tax's I filed was for 2017. Am I eligible for a stimulus check? Let me know please and thank you, Lexi
marco antonio
June 04, 2020
marco como puedo recibir ayuda del gobierno pues mi puntaje de sisben es de 57.70 y no apkico para ninguna ayuda soy desempleado y trabajaba en cocina x dias como me pueden ayudar gracias
No use su dire…
June 07, 2020
Senor presidente no es resibido ninguna ayuda por favor colaboreme tengo deuda por pagar gracia
Theresa
April 03, 2020
Will people on SSDI get the check?
Concernedparent
April 03, 2020
I am a single mom who has no income to report because I live on child support payments and am under poverty level. I do get my child support payments through NY state, and food stamps, do I qualify for the money? And if so, how will I get it?
Birjinia Magal…
June 09, 2020
Estoy haciendo la reclamacion de mi cheque de ayuda de mil doscientos gue no me a llegado como tengo gue hacer mi número de teléfono e786 3262887
George
April 03, 2020
I closed the checking account where I got my refund. I have another checking account where I get my Social Security Retirement funds. Will I still get a direct deposit into the account where I get my Social Security?
Lisa J Curry
April 03, 2020
I need to know.if my stimulis will be put on my emerald card.h&r block said it would
Julio4335 de email
June 15, 2020
Julio4335 soy veterano y al día de hoy no he recibido los 1200.00. No rindo plantilla mis entradas son tax free
Mommy2angels
April 08, 2020

In reply to by Lisa J Curry

I am wondering the same! I haven't been able to find a legit answer about the stimulus check on the emerald card! I need to know
Seekinginfo69
April 04, 2020
How can I update my Direct Deposits information with the IRS. Because the information that they have when I file my taxes I don't have anymore. Please help
Britoana
June 21, 2020
Todavía esta todo bien
DoDKn't use yo…
April 05, 2020
Im on SSD and I recieve my my payments monthly on Direct Express card, so will my stimulus money be deposited on there or will I have to wait for a check in the mail. I hear checks will take mnths and im already hanging on by a thread becas I had to spend more of my money to buy more items that I usually have to buy. Thank You for any info.
Alex0724
April 12, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

You should be giving more information rather than just directing people back to a dead end website
Shoeless
April 05, 2020
Can you use a relative, such as a sons, bank account for the direct deposit?
sourapple
April 15, 2020

In reply to by Shoeless

my ex husband used my bank account and it deposited no problem.
David ayala
June 26, 2020
No he recibido mi cheque de estimulo económico..
Jonana celis G…
January 12, 2021

In reply to by David ayala

Hola soy madre soltera y necesito la ayuda del gobierno
Mandy_13
April 06, 2020
If my partner filed my taxes with his will we get both checks together or one one check. ?
chinet
June 27, 2020
como puedo recibir mi cheque ya que duplique la solicitud primera por un error que cometi y luego la reclamacion la hice a mi nombre no al de.mi esposo que fue que llene la primera solicitud
mdsaifullahsar…
April 06, 2020
How can I get relief check from the government? Please help me.
J
April 06, 2020
My neighbor asked me if I heard anything about people on welfare receiving a stimulus payment...I told her no because I actually haven't seen that in any articles...at all.does anyone know if welfare recipients are eligible for the money?
Leidygarcia
July 03, 2020
Necesito q meayuden con el ingreso solidario
Pocket
April 06, 2020
Won't the stimulus check just be used against people already receiving Medicaid and Snap benefits? They will lose their gov't benefits.
FTC Staff
April 07, 2020

In reply to 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.

Ana Velázquez
July 20, 2020
Hasta hoy 20 de Julio no he recibido mi cheque de impacto económico.
No use su digl…
July 20, 2020
Por favor tomen en cuenta alos ciudadanos que ganan más de 40, 00 0 también tienen muchos gastos
Aline
April 07, 2020
I received a SMS from the number ‭+1 (203) 702-7181‬ requesting that I confirmed my “pending acceptance” of the stimulus check in a link. The SMS had specifically my name on it. Do not fall for this scam!
Luz
July 30, 2020
Cómo puedo recibir el cheque de ayuda de impacto económico? Si yo nunca he trabajado ni he echo impuestos
Maria trejo
August 03, 2020
Solo me dieron por una niña y tengo dos que puedo aser
Yvonne73
April 07, 2020
I'm on SSI will i get a stimulus check and do we have to file a tax return to get a stimulus check..i never filled a tax return what I need to do
Kenton39
April 07, 2020
I am on SSI do do I get a check if so do I have to do anything for it because I have SSI and I get them direct deposit
Jeremias hernandez
August 08, 2020
Necesito ayuda porque yo me enfermé de corona virus y ahora está enferma mi abuela no puedo trabajar
Nuvenmary
August 18, 2020
Porfavor quiero resivir ayuda
Elizabeth rincon
August 22, 2020
Nesesitho la ayuda por favor
Shheyla barrios
August 24, 2020
Hola Mi nombre es sheyla barrios Soy una joven de San Francisco California Quisiera saber que si todavía están enviando los dineros del gobierno porque primeramente yo quisiera aplicar pero no sé si todavía lo están mandando
Luis m Colón cubamn
August 24, 2020
No e recibido MY cheke de hinpacto
Jorge
September 03, 2020
Hola bendiciones