Coronavirus-related Scams

Taxpayers should be on the look-out for IRS impersonation calls, texts and email phishing attempts about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments. These scams can lead to tax-related fraud and identify theft.
Here’s what taxpayers need to know:
• The IRS will not call, email or text you to verify or request your financial, banking or personal information.
• Watch out for attempts to request money or personal information. The official website is IRS.gov.
• Taxpayers should not provide personal information or engage with potential scammers online or over the phone.
• Forward suspicious emails to phising@irs.gov, then delete.
Here’s what people should know about the Economic Impact Payments:
• The IRS will automatically deposit Economic Impact Payments into the bank account taxpayers provided on their 2019 or 2018 tax return for a direct deposit of their tax refund.
• Those without a direct deposit account on file may be able to provide their banking information online through a secure tool, Get My Payment.
• Anyone who is eligible for an Economic Impact Payment and doesn’t provide direct deposit information will receive a payment mailed to the last address the IRS has on file.
Scammers May:
• Ask an individual to sign over their Economic Impact Payment check to them.
• Ask for verification of personal or banking information.
• Suggest that they can get someone tax refund or Economic Impact Payment faster by working on their behalf.
• Issue a bogus check, often in an odd amount, then tell the person to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.