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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.

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.

Mel
May 20, 2020
Does anyone know if ur ex owes child support u get their check and if so when do we get it
Single father 41
July 03, 2020

In reply to by Mel

Yes if you are the custodial parent meaning the one with the kids you will get their stimulus paychecks if they are on back child support
Travis
May 20, 2020
Survivor benefits and I have not received my submissive check I'm looking for the number to call to find out why and when I'm supposed to get it
Kristy2015
May 20, 2020
It is now the middle of May and I'm on social security disability and have not received anything. People who r not struggling have received theirs months ago I'm confused.
pcm579JK3
May 21, 2020
I applied online for my stimulous check and accidentally said I can be claimed as a dependant by someone else, I am requesting that this mistake to be corrected? thank you and have a good day
Winchester75-SSDI
May 21, 2020
I am on SSDI Disability and the time line for me to have the stimulus check direct deposited in to my bank account was at the end of April it is now May 21 2020 and still nothing the said low income first I only get 848.00 a month just don’t understand where it’s at.
Penny
May 22, 2020
My husband collects ssdi its the only income we have coming in, as for me I can't work due to chronic pain I haven't worked in over ten years and can't. Collect ssdi or ssi or anything else as my husband. Makes too mych on ssdi $2077.00 per month..he received his stimulys check for $1200.00 I did not, do I get a stimulus check? I tried doing the non filers app but missed the dead line
Confused
May 22, 2020
so i get social security supplemental income and i also get ssi retirement benefits from my mom...why didn't i receive a stimulus check when she did?
Ilmdvm12
May 22, 2020
I'm 66yrd old and on SS retirement and I make less than $12,000 a year. I still haven't received a Stimulus money on my Direct Express card, will i.
Brandy
May 22, 2020
Still have not received my stimulus check. How do I find the status of my check? I have tried the Pament options on IRS website but they will not take my bank account information due to being a pre paid account.
Richard Mitchell
May 22, 2020
I'm on SSI and ssa and I haven't got my check yet
Broke and Confused
May 24, 2020
I have a below poverty level making $230 a month with an autistic toddler and I owe back child support only because my ex filed for back child support while I was homeless living on the street. I was homeless for three years I just now got my own place with my son and I am trying to pull myself out of poverty. I understand that I owe back child support I have really no issue with that but I didn't even get the money for my son and now they're talking about a second round of payments and I'm wondering if I'm going to miss out on that one too because of Child Support. My son deserves to be able to get ahead and the only way we're going to do that is if we get the stimulus payments because we are stuck where we are because we have no way to have forward momentum. We have no car we have no family, we have nobody. If anybody needs that money it's us and people like us. I haven't paid my child support because I don't have the money. I'm not a deadbeat. Are they going to take this second check too?
Brokenarrow
May 24, 2020
I'm on Social Security and still have not yet received my stimulus check every time I go and check check my payment tells me the same thing . I filed on the free file web site so the irs will have my bank account direct deposit . I thought it would speed things up for me to get my check. I just can't find anything out there that states how much longer it will be before the people who have not received their checks yet when will we get it
tlockyer
May 25, 2020
I recieved the following notice: Jan 15th |IN YOUR FILE: OLD 2019 Payment This is our 2nd attempt to reach out to you, Member. A huge relief payment from 2019 may still be OWED to you. Discover just how much is waiting in your file and request it while there is still time. Is this legit and how do I collect it
Daniel Jones 01
May 25, 2020
Am on SSDI and I pay 100.00back child support,can I get a coronvairus check
Vgarza74
May 27, 2020
But whst are you doing with those that have been fsksly claimed. Im 45 have my own dependents. What gives been trying over month , mailed info, submitted.. etc n still Help
Keith Wilson
May 27, 2020
Mad my check got send back too irs trying too get it put on my card
Don't use our …
May 27, 2020
I'm sennior and I don't file tax anymore because my income it is very low. But my brother carried me as dependent on his tax. Can I get my stimulus check? If they don't give somes people like me in very poor life I will don't voted on thema.
Just passing by
May 28, 2020
Ssi still haven’t my check yet, It feels like the don’t even care about us on ssi or any disability category. Direct express card says mid may we Almost at the end of the month and nothing it’s all a lie.
carolyn
May 28, 2020
i am on ssi but still have not recived my Ecanomic stimulus payment. i also recived a non filers code what do i do with it?
David
May 28, 2020
How do I get my check .I was in jail can someone else check for me the response was it said I was being used as someone's dependent or spouse so someone is already got my check I'm trying to find out help
Max
May 28, 2020
I get s.s.d and married I got 1200 but wife didnt
Hinestina861
June 10, 2020
Why did I only receive $1,200 and I have a ten-year-old I should have received1500.00
smaximini85
June 10, 2020
I have Direct Express but i can't get in to my card . Can you please send me a paper check so I can pay my bills. Direct Express is not picking up the phone's at all , I don't want thier card no longer it has been a problem. I live on one check a month please help me.
picked and plucked
May 31, 2020
If the government is helping during the Corona virus epidemic, it's to help with Bill's during this rough time. But you already knew that the stimulas package was part of your meeting to consider helping us Americans out. Right? But the money given goes back into money you loaned to child support, automatically gives your money back to you. So what good did it do me? I'm suffering to in this situation. But send a stimulas check to assist me. Knowing you would would garnersherr it.. planned and played to help the government. Right?
zly8
May 31, 2020
what about someone who just wants a portion of the check received in exchange of giving out information on how to get the check? This was a youtube ad. still a scammer?
urbelina 88Don…
May 31, 2020
Other seniors, more or less my age (87) and even younger have received the stimulus, it means that I do not posses the requisites to receive this stimulus?
Bvilla
June 02, 2020
I received stimulus letter stating that O would be receiving the 1200.00 dollars and the date the check was mailed. Never received check, even though post office showed on the app that it was scheduled to be delivered. Post office has no way to track my check to see where it is, nor can you call the IRS to ask for help. What are we to do??? Please help...
Don'tsuebugeja…
June 04, 2020
So if child support can take your stimulus check how is that putting money back in are pockets. i understand them taken from are checks from us working but not are hole stimulus check and out of are work check too that not right.and my child support is being taken not from my ex-husband but from his exwife i owe too ive paid off the the child support now its the interest thay are collecting and thay still plane on taken my kids check and my stimulus check again. I can understand taken my check but my youngest that has nothing to do with my child supoort. I just dont understand how thay can take what ever thay want and not want to work with you on anything
Bigdaddycool
June 05, 2020
I have not got my first stimulus check and can you tell me when will they send out for the SSDI social security
Annaxor1
June 09, 2020
In view of the stimulus money being sent out, I feel it is Wrong to leave out people who are listed as dependents on another person tax return. If the person doesn't have the means to live on their own, then certainly they need the $ much more to get on their feet. If the person could live on their own they wouldn't have to be claimed by another. Just a comment I had to vent.
Antya2785
June 11, 2020
When will SSI benefit payee's recieve their stimulus payment. I was accepted by irs for stimulus April 11 2020. And still havent recieved payment.
amycox8149@gma…
June 11, 2020
My son that is 20 year old on ssi and still haven't got it stimulus check
Renzmelendez
June 13, 2020
Ok I'm on SSI and got paid on the 16th of last month and will I get it this month as well????
StephanieCoz
June 19, 2020
Wondering if my stimulus check will ever come? Its for me and my 3 children..The worthless portal from day 1 has said, "Payment status not available" its super annoying..Get it together!!
DMosher69
June 19, 2020
I would like to know why unemployment filer's get $600 extra a month and people like me that are on total disability and make less than $750 a month only received one check of $1200
Marcelccr
June 20, 2020
I just need to find out is just in case someone signs my name on checks that has my name on it.
Rosiered
June 25, 2020
How can i cash my stem check without an id..im homeless and don't have one,my mom tried at her bank and they wouldnt do it even tho i signed it over to her..please help
Sidco123
June 26, 2020
The sooner we are able to see facts the better we will be able to determine a scam
Keila crego
June 27, 2020
Thank's for helping me I don't understant to much of this but I haven recive not even the firt stimulant check please help me I'm in need thak you very much in anything you be able to help me very appreciate keila crego
Stephanie
June 28, 2020
I get ssi and I have a Diet Express card and I have not got my stimulus check
Linda652
June 28, 2020
Both my mother and I got our stimulus check in the mail. We are both on social security and have our checks directly deposited into our bank accounts. I heard that if we have our checks directly deposited then our stimulus check will be directly deposited. Ours weren't. As I said before we got ours in the mail. I don't know if this helps anybody but I thought it might help.
DD
July 03, 2020
I am married and filing jointly , my adjusted gross income is 164,000 dollars and my wife does not work . Will I receive a stimulus check?
Consider M.
July 10, 2020
I get 1,000.00 a month alimony, That is my only income. I have never worked outside of the home. I have always cared for children. I am not on public aid. I filled out a non- filers form. I did not receive a stimulus check. What should I do?
Don'tchaine br…
July 11, 2020
My amazing wife to be was hit by a car wile riding her bike, crazy I know, anyways I take care of her happly 25/7 witch ends my job,my question is if I owe child support will I get any of my stimulus money?
Wondering why
July 12, 2020
My daughter applied for help, she owed child support, but she is now on government aid, she has 2 children ages 2 and under, her check was taken by the government for child support, she is struggling, her rent is 400 a month her check is 500, she cannot go working because of her children and the dangers of exposure to covid, what happened is, we didn't include her newborn baby at the time we applied, because babies are not counted on income tax returns till the next year, her child support is not very high, $5000. I wish they would look at cases like this to ensure people get the help they need.
cbgeorge
July 13, 2020
Where can you find out and report if your company got the employee payroll support bonus and they gave employees NOTHING?
Kim
July 13, 2020
Kim Hi, My Mom and Dad get the check together, but now my Dad not here, how my Mom can het device that check? Thanks.
delarosamonica…
July 14, 2020
I was release from prison this March 2020 and i just need to know do i still quilfy for that first stimulus payment and the second one because if i do i need you guys to know i never did recieve the first one and what can i do to recieve them because every since i been release from prison ive been denied all kinds of resoures and i do have a disability i cant get a loan nowhere and ive been homeless with my social security benefits aint helping me out at all they are taking almost everything i owe while beening in prison what esle can i do to get help with resoures
Justin
July 27, 2020

In reply to by delarosamonica…

Just go to where's my payment and type in your information. You should still qualify because payment wasn't released until April 2020. Or go to non filers and enter information