The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) are sounding the alarm on scammers trying to exploit the COVID-19 economic impact payments.
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The COVID-19 economic impact payments have started being deposited into taxpayers’ accounts, but scammers are already using the opportunity to commit crimes. Stephen McAllister, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, and Karl A. Stiften, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI St. Louis Field Office, are warning taxpayers to be on the lookout for these scammers.
Scammers may try to get taxpayers to sign over their checks or use their personal information to file false tax returns in an identity theft scheme. ‘The existence of a deadly national pandemic will not stop criminals seeking to capitalize on the fears and difficulties faced by the public as they try to line their own pockets by stealing your money or your personal information,’ said Karl A. Stiften.
The IRS will deposit checks into direct deposit accounts or send paper checks, but will not call to verify payment details. Taxpayers should not give out their bank account or other account information, even if someone claims it’s necessary to get the check. ‘It’s a scam,’ said Karl A. Stiften.
Taxpayers can report scams to the IRS by emailing USAKS.Covid.Fraud@usdoj.gov or calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 1-866-720-5721. The IRS also urges taxpayers to go directly to irs.gov/coronavirus for official information and to report scams on the website at https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing.
‘Our office is on alert for Covid-19 crimes in Kansas,’ said U.S. Attorney McAllister. ‘You can make a report by emailing us directly or by calling the NCDF hotline.’
Special Agent in Charge Stiften offers the following tips to spot a scam and understand how the COVID-19 related economic impact payments will be issued:
- The IRS will deposit your check into the direct deposit account you previously provided on your tax return (or, in the alternative, send you a paper check).
- The IRS will not call and ask you to verify your payment details. Do not give out your bank account or any other account information – even if someone claims it’s necessary to get your check. It’s a scam.
- If you receive a call, don’t engage with scammers or thieves, even if you want to tell them that you know it’s a scam, or you think that you can beat them. Just hang up.
- If you receive texts or emails claiming that you can get your money faster by sending personal information or clicking on links, delete them. Don’t click on any links in those emails or texts.
- Reports are also swirling about bogus checks. If you receive a check that requires that you verify the check online or by calling a number, it’s a fraud.
‘IRS Criminal Investigation alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas are prioritizing these types of investigations to help protect taxpayers and the tax system, especially those looking to prey on vulnerable taxpayers,’ said Special Agent in Charge Stiften. ‘Remember, go directly and solely to IRS.gov for official information.’
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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