Don't Be a Fool This April | Stewart Title Blog

If you haven’t fallen for the $5,000 COVID-19 vaccine, $400 COVID-19 self-testing kit, or the $150 bottle of Lysol scams, congratulations — you’ve stood your ground. But now is not the time to let your guard down. New tricks are already emerging to defraud you.

On March 27, the President signed a bill providing a $2 trillion economic stimulus relief package to be distributed among businesses and the American people. Included in that package is a stimulus check for every qualifying individual or household. Cybercriminals are fully aware of this and are ready to exploit it. Here are a few tips to help keep your money where it belongs — in your bank account, not theirs:

• The check will only be delivered via your mailing address or the bank account listed on your 2018–2019 tax return.
• The government does not need your Social Security Number (SSN), date of birth (DOB), driver’s license (DL) number, home address, credit card, or bank account information to send you the check.
• This payment is yours in full. There is no processing fee. Anyone asking for pre-payment to “process” your check is a fraudster.
• There is no expedited payment option. Fraudsters — or even some opportunistic businesses — may claim they can get your payment faster for a fee. Don’t fall for it. You will receive your funds on time directly from the government.
• The IRS will not contact you about this payment by phone, email, or text message.
• Remember: your SSN, DOB, DL, and address may already be circulating on the dark web. Scammers use that information to sound convincing. Always double-check URLs, sender email addresses, and links before clicking on anything.

I’ll continue to share updates as new scams emerge, but this one’s big — and there’s no room for error. With so much money in play, cybercriminals will be more aggressive than ever. Stay alert, stay skeptical, and stay safe.

Always remember: think before you click.