Stimulus Check Scam... Beware!!!

From the irs.gov site http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...178061,00.html

IRS Warns of New E-Mail and Telephone Scams Using the IRS Name; Advance Payment Scams Starting
Updated April 21, 2008

Scam #1 - Some people have received phone calls about the economic stimulus payments, in which the caller impersonates an IRS employee. The caller asks the taxpayer for their Social Security and bank account numbers, claiming that the IRS needs the information to complete the processing of the taxayer's payment. In reality, the IRS uses the information contained on the taxpayer's tax return to process stimulus payments, rather than contacting taxpayers by phone or e-mail.

Scam #2 - An e-mail claiming to come from the IRS about the "2008 Economic Stimulus Refund" tells recipients to click on a link to fill out a form, apparently for direct deposit of the payment into their bank account. This appears to be an identity theft scheme to obtain recipients' personal and financial information so the scammers can clean out their victims' financial accounts. In reality, taxpayers do not have to fill out a separate form to get a stimulus payment or have it directly deposited; all they had to do was file a tax return and provide direct deposit information on the return.

IR-2008-11, Jan. 30, 2008

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to beware of several current e-mail and telephone scams that use the IRS name as a lure. The IRS expects such scams to continue through the end of tax return filing season and beyond.

The IRS cautioned taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams involving proposed advance payment checks. Although the government has not yet enacted an economic stimulus package in which the IRS would provide advance payments, known informally as rebates to many Americans, a scam which uses the proposed rebates as bait has already cropped up.

The goal of the scams is to trick people into revealing personal and financial information, such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, which the scammers can use to commit identity theft.

Typically, identity thieves use a victim’s personal and financial data to empty the victim’s financial accounts, run up charges on the victim’s existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim’s name, file fraudulent tax returns or even commit crimes. Most of these fraudulent activities can be committed electronically from a remote location, including overseas. Committing these activities in cyberspace allows scamsters to act quickly and cover their tracks before the victim becomes aware of the theft.

People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years — and their hard-earned money — cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their reputations and credit records. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, may be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

Good article, thanks for sharing. I've actually received a few statements from my creditors with the words "Your Tax Refund And Stimulus Rebate", in large bold print. At first glance I thought, oh no, they're taking my refund! Then it goes on to encourage sending them money from your rebate and tax refund. lol

Ah yes.... they know the money is coming so they are there with their hand out. I think they already know that most of them will be getting something, like mine are, but that doesn't stop them from trying to get it all!

"I didn't get nothing. I had to pay fifty dollars, and pick up the garbage..." - Arlo Guthrie, from the song Alice's Restaraunt Masacree

Seriously, If they're slavering after your rebate check like Pavlov's dogs, just tell them you ain't getting one. Say the IRS got it, or whatever. That gets'em outta your hair long enough for you to decide what you want to do with it.

It's really awful. I'm waiting on someone to come out with the commercial for "we'll give you money on what your estimated stimulus rebate check will be...".

These checks are supposed to help out society, but we are so far under that I think I'll cash it and pack my dollars away for when I run out of toilet paper.

Anyone hear that deafening scream... gas prices just went up again.