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Are you a United States citizen living abroad? For millions of expatriates, help from home is on the way in the form of COVID-19 economic impact payments. Unfortunately, scammers also are on the way, and they’re eager to pluck the payment from your pocket.

Depending on your income, U.S. expatriates can get up to $1,200 each, or up to $2,400 for couples, plus $500 for each qualifying child, just as you would if living stateside. And, most people don’t need to do anything to get their payments. The IRS will deposit your payment directly to your U.S. bank account (the IRS can’t direct deposit money to a foreign account), or mail your payment using information from your 2018 or 2019 tax return or from your Social Security retirement or other federal benefits program.

If you haven’t filed a federal tax return for 2018 or 2019 and don’t get any federal benefits, you may have to give the IRS sensitive information, including your Social Security number and bank account number (if you have one), to get your payment.

Scammers will try to take advantage of this to try to steal your money, your personal information, or both. So, to help avoid scammers, use only irs.gov/coronavirus and the tools there to submit sensitive information to the IRS. Use the IRS’s guide to figure out which IRS tool to use. And, visit the IRS’s Economic Impact Payment Center for answers to common questions. Consider talking with a tax professional if your tax filing situation is complex.

With economic impact money flowing in, and many people confused about the distribution process, this is a time to stay on high alert for scammers. Here are some things that ONLY scammers will do:

  • Call, email, or text you to ask for, or “verify,” your personal or financial information. The IRS won’t contact you by phone, email, text, or social media about your payment.
  • Ask you to pay a transfer or other fee to get your stimulus money. There are no fees.
  • Send you a very real-looking check for more than you’re expecting, then tell you to deposit it, take your proper payment, and return the “overpayment” by sending cash, gift cards, or money transfers. A bank may be fooled and cash the check, but when it turns out to be fraudulent – which it will – you will owe the bank any money that you withdrew.

Learn more about avoiding economic impact payment scams here. And, if you spot a scam, please tell us about it at ftc.gov/complaint.

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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.
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  • 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.

Awaukaway
May 28, 2020
I reside in Thailand with Social Security retirement registered in Manila..I dont file for taxes and my benefits have been direct deposited in Bank of Guam for 2 years. As of today 28 May I have yet to recieve my CARES stimulus funds. Are they sending a check to Thailand instead.
Gaijin23
May 28, 2020
Greetings, I live in Japan and recently received my economic impact check. However, I have gone to and/or contacted several banks and none of them are accepting the check so I can cash it or deposit it into my Japanese bank account. In the confirmation letter, it said that there were some who received the economic impact payment in the form of a check or debit card. I need to access this payment as soon as possible so I’d like to have it sent in a debit card instead as Japan uses debit.
George/Mexico
May 28, 2020
I wrote on the 25th of this month, but I don't see my comments anywhere. I am a US citizen living in Mexico on Social Security. I am 67 years old and have tried everything I can think of and have heard to get information on my stimulus check. SS here cAN NOT TELL ME ANYTHING. The get my payment doesn't work for me, because I am not in the US. SS says I will get the payment the same as I receive my monthly deposit. The treasury will deposit it with Banco de Mexico and they will change to pesos and deposit in my local bank account. Can anyone tell me when this will happen? I have heard a lot of dates that have come and gone. Please help!!!
acg
May 31, 2020
Hi, My husband cut up our stimulus check because it looked so fake. They had his last name wrong and the bank it was issued from didn't seem real. What can we do? I've called the number on the paper included with card (luckily just put that in recycling) but since I don't know the card number or expiration I'm getting nowhere. There is no live customer service or option to address my particular issue. The recorded service continues to hang up on me. Thank you for any help.
NT
June 01, 2020
Hi, I live in a foreign country. I received a letter explaining how much I should receive for the economic impact payment. The "Get My Payment" page shows that a check was sent out on May 1st, but now one moth later I still have not received it yet. Since I did receive the letter of explanation, IRS does have my correct address. The records in the post office here shows that there was only 1 letter from IRS to me within the past month. The phone number on the economic impact payment page is only for general information and I could not reach anyone on the phone. How can I find out any information about the supposedly mailed out check?
Steven R
June 05, 2020

In reply to by NT

I live in Spain and have the same exact situation as you. May 1 was the date they said the check was sent. I did receive the letter May 22 but no check. I also noticed my postal code in Spain is the same as a zip code in Iowa... Maybe a machine sorted one letter and a human the other?
wellies
June 23, 2020

In reply to by NT

hi did u ever get ur check?? i am in the same position... waiting six weeks .. got letter 2 weeks ago?? thanks
AW1111
June 02, 2020
Any other non-tax filing retiree Living abroad that normally gets SSDI to direct deposit still waiting for their stimulus check to be deposited? Was hoping to receive by beginning of June.
Jorod328
June 03, 2020

In reply to by AW1111

I’m am living in Costa Rica and have not received anything yet either - I too was hopping I would get something with my social security disability direct deposit but that hasn’t happens either . I try calling the IRS— and when I finally get someone on the phone to get questions asked - they transfer me over to a recording which down boy answer any questions . I have two children that receive benefits through me - but can’t register non filers because they won’t accept a foreign address or phone number .. soooo ... still waiting -
PammW
June 05, 2020

In reply to by AW1111

Yep, still waiting. Not a one deposited in Australia that we can tell (We being other SSDI recipients I know here)
Micah321
June 06, 2020

In reply to by AW1111

Me too, non filer, ss beneficiary, still waiting and hoping
PammW
June 14, 2020

In reply to by AW1111

Still waiting. Doesn't help that the IRS refuses to answer on social media and no email or contact form. Someone needs to get on them on our behalf! I'm looking at you, FTC!
cstarr
June 02, 2020
The taxes I filed last year (May 28, 2019, to be exact) listed my address as in China. As of the fall of 2019, I've since lived in California. I've not received a stimulus and have submitted my information to "get my payment" up to this date. The site doesn't recognize my information. I have found no other recourse we are a family of four (my wife, two daughters, and I), please advise.
Helena
June 03, 2020
Expats retirees receiving social security payments that have foreign bank accounts in Greece have not yet received their stimulus payment. Is there any information regarding this situation?
Christos
June 12, 2020

In reply to by Helena

Expat myself. Uncle here is Greece receives social security retirement and it was deposited in Greek bank account. Unfortunately still waiting for my check by mail (was sent on May 1). Mother is still waiting for hers. My uncle while he is a retiree he did non filers tax form. Should we do the same? Directions on irs portal states retirees etc do nothong and payment will be automatically disbursed. But uncle did nonfiler and got it
sylvercz
June 04, 2020
Please, I live abroad with my senior mother. I received my payment by direct deposit. But, my mum they sent a check to our address overseas on April 24th. It is now June 4th and there’s no sign of her check. We are in the Czech Republic. Is there any way to track where the check is, or report it as lost? They said 2 weeks, and she has been waiting 6 weeks now. We would appreciate any advice you may have! Thank you!
Steven R
June 05, 2020
US citizen living in Spain. Get my payment portal says check went out May 1st, received the letter 1444 telling me my Impact payment has arrived on May 22nd. As of Today June 5th no EIP check. I noticed my postal code in Spain is the same as a zip code in Iowa. I have been unable to contact or communicate with anyone after trying the phone number 1-800-919-9835.
Fatma
June 06, 2020
I am Egyptian lives in Egypt and my son is an American citizen and I want to get for him the impact payment for COVID 19, what the form that I should fill to get it since I am not taxes paying and don’t have irs file
RKS
June 07, 2020
Hello, I received the check, however, how do I cash it in Jordan? I do not have a US bank account and my bank in Jordan have no clue how to cash the check
DoHancer62n't …
June 07, 2020
How can the IRS mail stimulus checks to expats if international mail is shut down. The USPS will mark them undeliverable and return it to the IRS. Then what happens to our stimulus payment
AndreaB-LondonUK
June 08, 2020
I received a letter saying that my Economic Impact Payment Has Arrived. I didn't see any check in the envelope however. Just this letter. How can I get the check sent?
John
June 09, 2020

In reply to by AndreaB-LondonUK

I got the same letter ... with no check or debit card, as promised. Not sure what to do ...
Ana Tepic nay
June 08, 2020
I have been calling useing on line get my payment stimulus hotline and can't get an answer from anyone since March it says payment status not available. Please help I need answers they keep saying do nothing but that's what the irs is doing nothing. I'm on ssdi no dependents single live abroad have direct deposit international bank and still can't get an answer from not one federal agency Help please!
rachelk
June 08, 2020
Good Day! i'm a US citizen and I'm stock here in the Philippines because of the pandemic. how will I get my coronavirus stimulus payment? Can you mail the check here in the Philippines?
Ann
March 10, 2021

In reply to by rachelk

I live in Norway, where they do not cash these checks! I sent them back, with a statement from my Norwegian Bank, with info for a direct deposit. This was last August! Have written letters, tried to contact so many different offices, no one helps. Even written letters. No response. Now I have received my second, check? What now? This is a joke!
American in France
July 14, 2020
Hi, I live in France and in the effort to track my payment of the Economic Impact Payment, I went to Get My Payment sa www4. irs.gov /ir fof -wmsp /notice ) and received the following notice: THIS U.S. GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IS FOR AUTHORIZED USE ONLY! Use of this system constitutes consent to monitoring, interception, recording, reading, copying or capturing by authorized personnel of all activities. There is no right to privacy in this system. Unauthorized use of this system is prohibited and subject to criminal and civil penalties, including all penalties applicable to willful unauthorized access (UNAX) or inspection of taxpayer records (under 18 U.S.C. 1030 and 26 U.S.C. 7213A and 26 U.S.C. 7431). Is this a legit address and should I click OK? Many thanks for your guidance.
Martine
November 22, 2020

In reply to by American in France

My mom currently lives in France as well and I just received her check for her. If I mail it to her will she able to cash the check at a French bank without having to pay a lot of fees for it? How else do you think we’re able to cash the check and get the money for her
Winnie
June 09, 2020
I am an American citizen living in Italy. I have no bank accounts in the United States. I recently received an Economic Impact Payment check by mail. I tried to deposit the check in my account at my Italian bank but was told the bank was unable to process this kind of check, even though I have had no problem depositing checks in dollars before. What do I have to do to cash the check and deposit the equivalent in Euros into an Italian account?
Hippy Jonny
June 14, 2020

In reply to by Winnie

So the government just mailed you a check to Italy after you did your taxes? I'm living in Japan and also don't have a bank account in the U.S.
Nada
November 03, 2020

In reply to by Hippy Jonny

Hi, I'm living in the middle East and the bank refused to cash my cheque. I contacted the U.S. embassy and they weren't very helpful either! any leads as how to get it cashed?
Suktin 55
June 11, 2020
What I don't understand is why I haven't got my EIP payment yet. I'm an American, retired in Europe who gets a SS check each month. SS has my foreign bank details so why can't my EIP payment be sent to it, just as SSA sends my pension? I also cannot understand why I (and friends also retired and living in Europe) cannot manage to fill out the online forms at IRS in order to give them our US Bank account information. The form will not accept foreign mobile numbers and when we get to that box - it's not accepted and we can go no further. So, we have no way to track our payment, no way to know if we are even going to get a payment and no way to give IRS our US bank info, because they say they will not auto-deposit the EIP payments electronically into foreign banks So what the heck are we to do!!!!
MMabroad
June 13, 2020
I got the check by mail using a PO. Box. But I just found out that my bank returned the check. I deposit it into a dollars savings account in a local bank, I am in the Dominican Republic. At first everything was fine and now I just checked my account to find out the check was return. Any ideas on how Am I supposed to cash it?
james.bailes
June 23, 2020
I LIVE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY EVERY MONTH DIRECT DEPOSIT IT IS JUNE 13 TH AND I STILL HAVE NO $ AND THE "GET MY PAYMENT " SITE DOESN'T WORK. THE NON FILERS SITE ASKS FOR "ABA" NUMBER FOR MY BANK HERE BUT ABA NUMBERS ARE ONLY USED IN THE USA ! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT ! JAMES BAILES, M.D.
alfredo
July 01, 2020

In reply to by james.bailes

I am in the same boat. First you must be aware that the IRS does not make direct deposits to a foreign bank. After calling the 800 IRS # a couple times with a wait of about an hour and a half a specialist told me that I needed to fill out the non-filers form. Go to https://www.irs.gov/ then click on Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here. On the next page click on Enter your Information then fill out a short tax form. On total income for last year put 0. You then will receive an email from the IRS telling you if they have accepted your application. Be aware that you need to put an address in the states so they can send you check to that address. Hope this helps
JAMES BAILES
July 16, 2020

In reply to by alfredo

I TRIED TO FILL OUT THE FORM. THEY WANT BANK "aba" NUMBER WHICH WE DO NOT USE IN DOMINICAN REP. ALSO WON'T ACCEPT 57000 POSTAL CODE FOR THIS COUNTRY. I RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BY DIRECT DEPOSIT MONTHLY SINCE 2000. I DONT HAVE USA ADDRESS OR BANK SO, WHAT TO DO. ? CALLING THEM DOESN'T WORK EITHER ! JAMES BAILES
mychael
June 13, 2020
hi there , i live overseas, in Germany, and I am an American, i would like to know being that i live overseas and don't have an American bank account, how would i receive the payment from the irs ???and is it possible just to get a cheque?
McDade
November 14, 2020

In reply to by mychael

We got a $1200,00 Here in Scotland where we now live ,Bank won't take it so we tried the Western Union in Glasgow ,no joy there either .We have no US bank accounts anymore nor a home address either .So I guess we lose out.
Hippy Jonny
June 14, 2020
I filed my taxes with a foreign address. I don't have a U.S. bank account. So, will they simply e-mail the stimulus check to this foreign address once the taxes are processed?
Bigcaptain
June 15, 2020
I am an American citizen living in the Philippines. I am receiving my Social Security via direct deposit. I have not received my $1200 stimulus yet. What steps should I take to assure that I will receive my economic Stimulus? The IRS form will not accept my foriegn telephone number even when I add +011 to the front of the number. How can I contact the IRS and receive my economic stimulus? Thank you.
LovelyAndy
June 15, 2020
My check was apparently shipped to me back on 4/24 and we're getting close to two months without it showing up. I'm living overseas and the company my family filed taxes under put in a very wrong address for me. Is there anything I can do here to just have it go to direct deposit? Surely they've seen that my check hasn't gone through yet, so perhaps it can be deposited and the check can get ignored? Thank you
kaebucha
June 16, 2020
will i qualify im a us citizen living outside the country, particularly in Asia? how will i qualify?
Ellay192
June 19, 2020

In reply to by kaebucha

Yes, so long as you submitted a tax return for 2018 and 2019. I am a US Citizen living in Germany and I received a physical check in the mail, since the IRS cannot accept foreign bank accounts.
rachel12
June 24, 2020

In reply to by Ellay192

I received a physical check as I am residing in Malaysia. However, I was unable to bank it into my local bank account. Did anyone have this problem? I'm not sure if it's because it is not a US-affiliated bank or the IRS just won't recognize a foreign bank/address.
Ellay192
June 17, 2020
I received my stimulus as a check, however I am unable to deposit or cash the check in Germany. My American bank (Capital One) instructed me to mail my ENDORSED check to them in the US. Do you know if the IRS can void checks and then direct deposit the funds into an American account?
Gvm
June 19, 2020
Hi, I am an American Living in Greece and got my economic impact payment approved which I directed at a financial institution that later informed me that they are not able to handle IRS payments and cancelled the transaction. My question is: will I be getting a bank cheque at my mail or is there some other process I need to follow?
Jp
June 20, 2020
I am sr citizen. Overseas with local bank acct used to receive my SS . The IRS app said in May stimulus to be sent. Never got. On June 5 portal said check to be sent. Never got. Now I hear the USPS is not sending mail to most countries including mine. I'm sure IRS and Treasury employees got theirs. Utter incompetence
tsoomoo
June 23, 2020
What if I live abroad and closed all my bank account? Can I write a Letter of Entrustment to my mother and have her deposit into her account?
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