As millions of Americans wait and hope that Washington, D.C.
lawmakers sign off on another coronavirus stimulus check, crooks are taking
advantage of their eagerness.
In fact, the IRS recently issued a warning about a new text
scam related to COVID-19 stimulus payments -- one that could lead to the
stealing of your bank information if you fall for it.
"Criminals are relentlessly using COVID-19 and Economic
Impact Payments as cover to try to trick taxpayers out of their money or
identities," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "This scam is a new
twist on those we've been seeing much of this year. We urge people to remain
alert to these types of scams."
Don't click on the link if you receive this text
According to the IRS, scammers are sending out a text
message to try to trick people into providing their bank details. The
fraudulent message states: "You have received a direct deposit of $1,200
from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment
into your account. Continue here to accept this payment."
A link in the text message takes consumers to a page
impersonating the legitimate "Get My Payment" website, which the IRS
set up to help people track the delivery of their COVID-19 money. The texted
link is actually a fake phishing URL, not the official government website.
The fraudulent page requests that you input personal and
financial account information. Unfortunately, those who fall victim to the scam
are giving their details to criminals who can use them for nefarious purposes.
The IRS urges you to remember: The agency will never send
unsolicited emails or texts, nor will it call people to threaten jail time, or
to demand tax payments be sent via gift cards.
If you receive this text, do not click on any links it
includes. Instead, the IRS requests that you send a screenshot of it via email
to phishing@irs.gov, along with the phone number the text was sent to; the
number that appeared with the text on your caller ID; and the date, time, and
time zone the fraudulent text was received.
What to do if you think you might be owed a stimulus
payment
Clicking on the scam link will not help you obtain any
COVID-19 money you are actually owed.
The CARES Act, signed into law in March of this year,
provided payments of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent child. Most
people have received these payments already. Those who have not yet obtained
their funds should go directly to the IRS.gov website created to provide
information about the payments. That official website will help you track the
status of your payment or register for one if you are entitled to receive it
but haven't yet.
Lawmakers have been negotiating to pass a second stimulus
check as a followup to the CARES Act payments, but have thus far been
unsuccessful. Therefore, if you already received your initial coronavirus
stimulus check, you do not have any more money on the way from Uncle Sam yet.
Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn
you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a
no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than
debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!)
of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.
But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely.
This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until
late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up
to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.
That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards –
signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our
expert’s top pick.
The Motley Fool owns and recommends MasterCard and Visa, and
recommends American Express. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is
why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed,
approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all
offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The
Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Click
here for the original article.