Stimulus Check Fraud

If you are expecting your economic impact payment from the federal government as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act remember these few key items. 

1. You don’t need to do anything to receive your check. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will calculate your payment based on your 2019 tax return. If you haven’t filed your 2019 return yet, the IRS will use the information from your 2018 tax filing.
   
   Some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment. Information on how to do so will be available at IRS.gov/coronavirus.
2. Do not give anyone your personal information to “sign-up” for your relief check. There is nothing to sign up for. Any calls or emails asking for your personal information, like your Social Security number, PayPal account, or bank information is a scammer, plain and simple.
3. The government doesn’t use social media for direct communication. While the IRS uses social media to share information with the public, social media isn’t used to communicate personal or financial information. It’s easy for scammers to impersonate real people on social media. If you get an offer from a friend via social media message, call your friend to verify. When using social media to connect with the IRS, verify the accounts by going first to IRS.gov/socialmedia.
4. You don’t have to verify your mailed check. When you receive your check, there is no requirement to call a number or go online to confirm your identity or verify that you got the check. If you have received a check claiming you need to do this, it is fraud. 

If you a wondering the status of your payment, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have released a new web tool that will allow taxpayers to update their direct deposit information to receive their Economic Impact Payments more quickly. It will also allow you to check your payment status and indicate when and how you will receive payments.

We are always available at Pioneer Bank & Trust if you have any questions regarding your CARES Act payment. Call us and we can help verify the legitimacy of any communications. 

Stay up to date with more information with the following resources. 

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• Treasury Department
• IRS
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

For faster service, please contact us by telephone during our banking hours.