Scam Alert: US Government Stimulus Checks
Scammers are gearing up for an announcement that the US government will pay citizens via check or direct deposit to a bank account. We expect a great deal of scams that attempt to take advantage of unsuspecting people.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
The government will not ask you to pay anything upfront in order to receive the money. This is a classic scam in which you are asked to send a small payment to someone in order to receive a larger sum in return. You will not receive anything and there will be no way to retrieve your payment.
The government will not ask for personally identifiable information, such as a social security number, driver’s license number, bank account, or credit card number. The government already has this information. Anyone asking for it can use it to steal from you.
Anyone who claims they can get you the money immediately is a scammer. As of this writing, the government has not yet announced a check/deposit program, so anyone claiming immediate payment (for a fee) is going to take that fee and run.
You can read more about this warning on the FTC website. You can file a complaint there if you see one in the wild.
Tips to avoid most scams:
No reputable company will call or email you to ask for identifying or payment information. They will certainly not flash a message onto your computer screen.
If you get an email or phone call from a company (or the government) that asks for such info, find an official number or email for that company and reach out yourself. If it’s legitimate, they can confirm and you can take care of businesses right there.
Use a higher level of scrutiny when dealing with personal information, whether for communications or completing a payment. If you are ever unsure about the authenticity of a message, investigate further or ask someone you trust.