Americans are waiting on checks from the federal government’s $2.2 trillion rescue plan in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
But scammers already are trying to take advantage of people before economic impact payment checks have been sent out, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS is warning taxpayers to be on the lookout for these call and phishing scams that could lead to tax fraud and identity theft.
"We urge people to take extra care during this period. The IRS isn't going to call you asking to verify or provide your financial information so you can get an economic impact payment or your refund faster," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "That also applies to surprise emails that appear to be coming from the IRS. Remember, don't open them or click on attachments or links. Go to IRS.gov for the most up-to-date information."
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Taxpayers are urged to watch out for any suspicious emails, text messages, websites and social media accounts asking for money or personal information. Retirees are among the most targeted.
The IRS says the scammers may:
- Emphasize the words “stimulus check” or “stimulus payment.” The official term is economic impact payment.
- Ask the taxpayer to sign over their economic impact payment check to them.
- Ask by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up their economic impact payment.
- Suggest that they can get a tax refund or economic impact payment faster by working on the taxpayer’s behalf. This scam could be conducted by social media or even in person.
- Mail the taxpayer a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.
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The IRS wants to remind people these are the ways you will actually receive your checks:
- Direct deposit into accounts previously provided on tax returns.
- Taxpayers who filed returns but didn’t provide direct deposit information will be able to provide their banking information in a secure portal online on IRS.gov in mid-April.
- If the IRS does not have a taxpayer’s direct deposit information, a check will be mailed to the address on file.
- The IRS will automatically send $1,200 payments to retirees.
If you think you have received a scam message, the IRS asks you to forward it to phishing@irs.gov. More information economic impact payments can be found on the IRS coronavirus tax relief page.
[RELATED: Are you getting a stimulus check; how much will it be? Use this calculator to find out]
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