State Representative Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) and the Illinois Attorney General are urging Illinois residents to be vigilant and watch for scammers trying to take advantage of the upcoming COVID-19 federal economic stimulus payments.
People are urged not to respond to email messages, text messages, letters or phone calls that claim to include information about the COVID-19 stimulus package and request personal information or prompt recipients to click on a link. Such messages likely are sent by scammers trying to steal personal information such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers or credit card numbers. Clicking links or opening attachments included in such messages also could result in people inadvertently downloading dangerous malware onto their computers or phones, which compromises the security of everything stored on their devices.
Take note:
- You do not have to pay money. There is no fee or cost for you to receive the stimulus payment.
- The government will not demand personal information first. If you are contacted by someone who claims to work for the government and requests your Social Security number or bank account information in order to release your stimulus funds, that person is a scammer.
- You don’t need to apply. Most Americans will receive their stimulus payments automatically.
- Do not pay for assistance applying for stimulus money. Disregard offers from anyone who offers to help you to apply for the stimulus payment in exchange for money.
Report scams connected to the COVID-19 outbreak to the Attorney General.
More on protecting yourself from scams: