G. Zachary Terwilliger, Coronavirus Fraud, Virginia 2023

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A wave of financial scams targeting Economic Impact Payments has hit Virginia, prompting the Virginia Coronavirus Fraud Task Force to issue a warning to the public.

Fraudsters are using various phishing techniques, including text messages, emails, and letters delivered through the mail, to steal personal information or swindle people out of their economic impact payment. “Fraudsters are chomping at the bit to steal your money,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, co-leader of the task force and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We have reports of criminals attempting to use various phishing techniques, all attempting to steal your personal information or swindle you out of your economic impact payment. Please be vigilant.”

For most Americans, the Economic Impact Payments will be directly deposited into their bank account. However, for those individuals who do not utilize direct deposit, and other groups who have traditionally received tax refunds via paper check, they will receive their economic impact payment as a hard check.

“Americans will receive their economic-impact payments in one of two ways: through the mail or by direct deposit into their bank accounts,” said Thomas T. Cullen, co-leader of the task force and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. “These payments do not need to be confirmed, authorized, or activated, and you should assume that any unsolicited calls or emails from individuals or entities who claim to be associated with the IRS are fraudulent.”

The IRS has recently launched two new tools to help people navigate the Economic Impact Payments: “Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here” and “Get My Payment.” The first tool allows quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return, while the second enables taxpayers to check the status of their payment, including the date their payment is scheduled to be deposited into their bank account or mailed to them.

IRS Criminal Investigation is actively working to combat scam artists trying to exploit economic impact payments and other provisions related to COVID-19. So far, the scams IRS-CI have seen look to prey on vulnerable taxpayers who are unaware of how the payments will reach them.

IRS-CI is prioritizing these types of investigations to help protect taxpayers and the tax system. If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.

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