If you receive a message stating that you are eligible for a $1,400 stimulus check purportedly from the IRS, do not click on any links. This message is a scam, as the IRS does not communicate in this manner. The Better Business Bureau cautions that scammers are posing as the IRS to deceive taxpayers into revealing personal information through fraudulent alerts regarding additional funds.
These deceptive messages may seem credible, as they reference recent news developments. In late December, the IRS announced it would distribute a total of $2.4 million to 1 million individuals who missed out on their full federal stimulus payments during the pandemic.
However, these payments—up to $1,400 per individual—are conducted automatically, and the IRS will send a letter to each beneficiary. Most payments are anticipated to reach recipients by the end of January.
Guidance from the Better Business Bureau:
- Verify communications: Authentic IRS notifications are delivered via postal mail, not through texts or emails.
- Avoid clicking links: Do not click on links found in unsolicited messages. Instead, visit IRS.gov directly.
- Be wary of urgency: Scammers create an illusion of urgency to compel immediate action. Take the time to verify claims independently.
- Report the scam: Forward any suspicious messages to [email protected] and report them on org/ScamTracker.
