If you were set to receive one, you have probably received your Stimulus Check from the US government for relief during the coronavirus lockdown. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who want to tell you how to spend your stimulus check, and not all of them are legitimate.
Even before the checks were sent, tele-scammers were targeting people who needed the money fast, offering advances on the check like a payday lender, and then charging interest rates that made it impossible for them to pay it back, once the check came in.
Other scammers are using phishing tactics by claiming to be from the government in emails, and phone calls, and requesting private information. They tell them that they need their Social Security number, or bank routing number in order to send the check.
This is never true. The government has your Social Security number on file, and if you e-file taxes, they also have your bank numbers.
Reputable companies will never ask for your full Social Security number on the phone. Be careful who you talk to when giving out your phone number for a payment. If you haven’t contacted them first, be wary of a random call.
