IRS calls or emails
Experts say the Internal Revenue Service – and most other government agencies – will not reach US taxpayers by phone, text, or email about money matters. Therefore, if you receive a phone call or email from someone claiming to represent the IRS, chances are it is a scam. According to a blog post by Jennifer Leach of the FTC, many scammers use spoofing technology to cover up their own identities and impersonate the IRS.
Leach wrote that government agencies “will not call, text, email, or contact you on social media to ask for your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card number … Anyone who does is a scammer.” Official correspondence from those agencies is most likely to come by mail, but there are other ways to verify their authenticity, which are detailed below.
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Time sensitivity
Another sign of a scam is the illusion of time sensitivity – claims that you need to provide information quickly or you will lose your stimulus check altogether. Moody’s office told CNBC that these “high-pressure tactics” are designed to limit your time for doubts.
In fact, if you qualify for the stimulus check, there is plenty of time to claim it. Even if an issue is keeping the IRS from sending it your way, you can easily claim the payment on your next tax return with a form on the agency’s website. Experts say any urgency in a conversation about your stimulus check is a big red flag of scam.
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‘Verification’ messages
Messages on just about every platform now ask Americans to “verify” certain information – be it social security numbers, bank details, or credit card numbers. Experts say this is most likely a scam from someone who doesn’t yet have that information to ‘verify’.
A common version of this scam is said to be a persuasive link asking you to “apply for benefits,” according to the Better Business Bureau. The agency’s Scam Tracker has some examples of these types of messages to give users an idea of what they might look like.
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Fees
A common scam in March promised users that their stimulus check would come faster if they paid a “processing fee” up front, but these, too, are scams. The FTC and BBB both found that these scam artists cannot speed up the process, so paying these fees is basically giving away money.
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Fake checks
Finally, another scam that’s gaining in importance starts with a check that looks like a government payment sent to the taxpayer. The scammer waits for an American to deposit the check, then contacts the person posing as a government official and says the amount is incorrect. Then they ask the person for some bank information to take the check back, and the transfer of money begins.
This kind of scam is especially disarming because it looks like you’ve already received your money, but that’s not the case. As always, experts say Americans should keep an eye on the IRS website for all official information on stimulation checks and coronavirus help.
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