Yes, this is a scam. With the rollout of Economic Impact Payments, there’s an increased risk of scams. It’s important to stay vigilant and aware of unsolicited communications asking for your personal or private information – through mail, email, phone call, text, social media or websites – that:
Ask you to verify your SSN, bank account, or credit card information
Suggest that you can get a faster payment if they fill out information on your behalf or if you sign over your check to them
Send you a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, and then ask you to call a number or verify information online in order to cash that check
Be aware that scammers are also able to replicate a government agency’s name and phone number on caller ID. It’s important to remember that the Internal Revenue Service will never ask you for your personal information or threaten your benefits by phone call, email, text or social media.
If you receive an unsolicited email, text or social media attempt that appears to be from the IRS or an organization associated with the IRS, like the Department of the Treasury Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, notify the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. You can also learn more about coronavirus-related scams.
Check the IRS’s website for more information about the Economic Impact Payments
.