Experts urging residents to be aware of stimulus check scams

With a stimulus check headed to most Americans’ bank accounts soon, tax experts and the IRS want to issue a word of caution.

The two trillion-dollar aid package is set to hit bank accounts as early as April 17^th. “Based on your tax return, either your 2018 or your 2019 tax return, if you filed single you will get $1,200. If you file head of household you get $1,200. If you filed joint you get $2,400. If you have a dependent under the age of 17 then you will get $500 for each dependent that is under that age.”

The money will be direct deposited in the checking account used to receive your tax return. “For senior citizens who have social security and retirement, you don’t have to go through a tax return because they will use your social security information to send you the stimulus check. It may take a little bit longer, but you don’t have to file a tax return if all you have is social security.”

The stimulus check, designed for financially supporting everyone impacted by COVID-19 could also interest scammers.

The experts are urging you to be on the lookout for a surge of calls and emails from potential frauds. “The state tax commission, the IRS, social security, those agencies will not text or email, they do not call, they send letters. When you respond to the letters and you set that communication link, if anybody calls asking for your social security number, asking for your bank account, or credit card numbers, nine chances out of 10 that’s a fraudulent call. That’s just someone trying to get your information. If you see an email from anybody, especially dealing with the government extension, on the end is going to be .gov. It may be mdes.ms.gov or secretary of state would be sos.ms.gov. If it doesn’t have that gov at the end, it’s not from the government.”

For more information on the stimulus check payout visit irs.gov.