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Please visit Coronavirus stimulus payment scams: What you need to know for the most recent information.

 

As the Coronavirus takes a growing toll on people’s pocketbooks, there are reports that the government will soon be sending money by check or direct deposit to each of us. The details are still being worked out, but there are a few really important things to know, no matter what this looks like.

 

1. The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges. No nothing.

2. The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.

3. These reports of checks aren’t yet a reality. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer.

Look, normally we’d wait to know what the payment plan looks like before we put out a message like this. But these aren’t normal times. And we predict that the scammers are gearing up to take advantage of this.

So, remember: no matter what this payment winds up being, only scammers will ask you to pay to get it. If you spot one of these scams, please tell the Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov/complaint. We’re doing our best to stop these scammers in their tracks, and your report will help.

Keep up to date with the latest Coronavirus-related scams at www.ftc.gov/coronavirus or by signing up to get these consumer alerts. 

Watch these videos for more tips on how to avoid ecomonic impact payment scams:

FTC tips to avoid economic impact payment scams

Updated link added on April 21, 2020.

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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.

E.
April 14, 2020
Still no real answer as to will the money be placed on our direct exspress card.
Don't use ymic…
April 14, 2020
Thank you so much Thank you
Kerri6021
April 14, 2020
Will i get my stimulus payment on my direct express card
Trinik4
April 14, 2020
Will I recieve the stimulus check on my direct express card?
Florencemcmorris
April 14, 2020
Please reconsider retirees& whose been carried as a dependent@ 70 yrs old we've gone broke since this virus hit us
Linda Doyle
April 15, 2020

In reply to by Florencemcmorris

Once again I'm 68 I live on my own and my granddaughter claim me on her taxes way before this coronavirus started all these stimulus checks. I don't see why I should have to go without but I'm Ill and I've had to order food delivered to the house which cost a lot of money since I can't get to a market. Why should I not receive a stimulus check like everyone else
duncanrussell3…
April 14, 2020
Will I get my stimulus money on my direct express card
TFlowers
April 14, 2020
This year my husband and I filed married but seperate. He received a refund and I had to pay. As of 4/14/2020 I have not filed actually. But I only made 32000 for2019. We did file married for 2018. My question is: He shows the stimulus money 1200 pending in his account. Where is mine. We use the same direct deposit.
ruthie
April 14, 2020
i'm my sons payee will he still a stimilus check
Lostangel 61
April 14, 2020
Trying to find out if the stimulus will go on my direct express card automatically
24 coronass
April 14, 2020
I'm a citizen n my husband had an Itin number we have filed last year. Will we get a stimulus check?
Gogeyi
April 14, 2020
Do we have to pay taxes on this money. Or is it tax free. Do we have to pay it back some where down the line
FTC Staff
April 21, 2020

In reply to by Gogeyi

Please check the IRS questions and answers at irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center.

The IRS website says " The Payment is not income and you will not owe tax on your Payment. It will not reduce your refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2020 tax return next year."

"A Payment also will not affect your income for purposes of determining eligibility for federal government assistance or benefit programs."

Tom
April 14, 2020
What happens if I receive a stimulus check for a deceased family member.
Sharon See
April 14, 2020
Jackson Hewitt just posted that those of us that had our tax prep fees taken out of our tax returns might not get our stimulus checks direct deposited. Can someone please tell me if the IRS has fixed this because we can't get any information out of Jackson Hewitt. People are so mad there is an online petition regarding how poorly they've handled this. Are we going to get our stimulus money direct deposited or are we're going to have to suffer even longer???
Mary Rosess
April 14, 2020
I’m 73 on social security retired my son claimed me on his taxes do I still get a check
Noreen
April 14, 2020
I file jointly I work an my husband gets disability how will that affect my stimulus check
Blanc03219
April 14, 2020
So question to all i receive ssi an ssa on direct express card do i get a stimulatius check as well on the 15th
Fran46
April 15, 2020
It is not clear if those who have a Direct Express debit card will get the money on the card?
Young mother o…
April 15, 2020
I received A stimulus check for $1200 but I have 3 young children that I claimed on my taxes why didnt I receive money for them
FTC Staff
April 15, 2020

In reply to by Young mother o…

People who get Social Security, Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Railroad Retirement benefits will get checks from the IRS automatically. The IRS says if you have a qualifying child, you can take an extra step to get $500 per child. Use the IRS web tool to give basic information to claim the payment per child.

Johndoe
April 15, 2020
Why did I get paid less then 1200
Contributingmember
April 15, 2020
Office of child support division collected 1500 from a joint filed return for owed child support so only received 300 from tax check but that's ok it caught support up for child raised by grandmother but dont be mistaken have always been a contributing mother in every essence of the word child now resides with me but child support in effect per personal agreement. When grandmother hadn't received money and excess was being taken from payroll check as well for arrears ocsd was contacted in March was told payment out of tax check wouldn't post for 6 months because irs holds that money,so the arrears would remain as posted until the irs releases the money to ocsd,so not only am I on unemployment with child support bracket at higher amount still due to arrears but that before stated amount also was taken from stimulus check at this point I'm over 2000 ahead in child support but I'm sitting with disconnect notices and cant do anything couldn't use tax check to pay off debts I was counting on tax check for and now cant catch up anything with stimulus check either,oh and keep in mind my mother hasn't received any of the money that was withheld for her either so why is there over 4000 just being held? By the irs and ocsd?
KG1311
April 15, 2020
Per the courts, my ex claims our child in odd years and I claim her in even years, but she lives with me full time. He makes too much to recieve a check so he his excluded from any money and he owes back child support. How do I go about getting the $500 for my child?
Santafe62
April 15, 2020
I didn’t receive coronavirus 1200 check I’m upset
allenone23
April 15, 2020
When can I put my banking information in so I can get my money
Ryan
April 15, 2020
Why is it families that have spouses on childsupport and paying on time but have rears don't receive help but have kids at home but you take from one family to help a family already receiving that's not right.
Melissa Hankins
April 15, 2020
I closed my account number u sent the money to how do I go about receiving my money. I don't even know what account number that is. When I did my taxes I updated my info why did it send it to the wrong account
Miki
April 15, 2020
I am on ssdi and have a payee and direct express card xss how and when will I get a stimulus check?
Tashley48
April 15, 2020
I received my tax return on a prepaid card will my stimulus come on that card also?
NICHOLE710
April 15, 2020
My son is 21 and in college, he does not work and I claim him on my taxes. How does he get money from the stimulus check. He has never worked and does not have a bank account.
berryf375
April 15, 2020
I am trying to get the coronavirus stimulant
hamm
April 15, 2020
Why are my 2 children 18 and 22 not receiving anything from the stimulus payouts? They are my dependents however they work and pay taxes as well. It’s like they don’t exist in the world. This is unbelievable. Who do we address about this situation?
GBrother
April 15, 2020
Will Netspend prepaid card accept the check? I get my SS Retirement on this direct deposit. Why does it take so long to arrive?
Msfaith
April 15, 2020

In reply to by GBrother

I'm still waiting on my Federal refund to post to my account I have NetSpend too there are a lot of scammers out there in the world
tjm
April 15, 2020
What happens if some one recently passed away, and gets money deposited in their account?
Watersllc
April 15, 2020
My husband and I got our stimulus checks this morning but I never received one for my 16-year-old daughter and she is a dependent on my taxes
FTC Staff
April 15, 2020

In reply to by Watersllc

People who get Social Security, Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Railroad Retirement benefits will get checks from the IRS automatically. The IRS says if you have a qualifying child, you can take an extra step to get $500 per child. Use the IRS web tool to give basic information to claim the payment per child.

Jordan Bloss
April 15, 2020
I am a little confused... my husband and I got married back in August and for some reason I got a stimulant check for only 1200 but he didn’t when we should have gotten one together for 2400 I am not sure why when we have filed our taxes and received that money back jointly... I don’t know who I should call sense the number on the IRS website doesn’t work right now due to the crisis. Someone please assist
Don't use your…
April 15, 2020
My husband who is 62 and 8 who am 52 both receive disability. I filed taxes because i did work. I also raise my disabled grandson who is 18. I received a total of $2400. I was expecting $3600. So one of us not qualify. I did claim all three of us on my taxes
kimpham
April 15, 2020
I already received my stimulus check but the amount was not right. Where I can complain please?
Jessica Jones
April 15, 2020
I am on $783.00 ssi check every month im married. But my husband has been unable to work due to health reasons seance 2016. We do not file taxes do to the only income we have is my $783.00 ssi a month. I have tried to file the non filers app but it doesn't work. Will i and my husband get a coronavirus check and if we do when will the coronavirus checks go out I also us a Direct Express card savings
Debbie S
April 15, 2020
I am getting widows pension so on the stimulus check do I have to claim that on my amount for the year. I am only aloud to make so much money. I am only 64 .
carolinebunch2…
April 15, 2020
Is this stimulus check I suppose to get is it a fraud I need money to pay my bills.
taz24
April 15, 2020
If have been in bankruptcy chapter 13 & paying taxes thru that, do i still receive a stimulus check?
kimw
April 15, 2020
I receive SSIDI through direct deposit, will my stimulus check be deposited the same way my SSIDI check is ?
Trica Davis
April 15, 2020
My taxes we're done back in January. I received an Advance loan from my taxes that was deposited in my Personnel Bank. I DON'T Bank with Meta and My Stimulus Check went to Meta Bank and now my tax prepare is stating he don't know why the Stimulus checks are going there for his client that did Advancement. How do I retrieve my Stimulus check from Meta Bank? They have no number that customers can ask question nor any info in regards to this. From my Tax guy understanding, Meta Bank is Holding a lot of people money that did advancement but had Personnel account were the money actually went to and if so why not put my Stimulus in my account that you put the advance in!
R)GER PRATER
April 15, 2020
MY WIFE AND MYSELF ARE BOTH ON SOCIAL SECURITY WILL OUR STIMULOUS CHEC BE DIRECT DEPOSITED LIK OUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS ARE?OR WILL THEY USE OUR INCOME TAX RETURN?
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