CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With another round of stimulus now passed and some deposits already made, the Better Business Bureau is warning people of scammers after their money.
Previously, BBB Scam Tracker received numerous reports from people who scammers contacted through text message, email, and phone calls about their COVID-19 stimulus checks. BBB believes many of these same tactics may be used again.
“Consumer should watch out for an email or text messages instructing them to click a link to 'request benefit payments.' The link connects to an application prompting the entering of personal information in order to 'make sure you are getting all the payments owed to you,'" said Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.
This “application” is really a way to phish for personal details and commit identity theft.
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Scammers are using several different tactics to rip-off consumers, including:
• Fake Checks: Don’t let your excitement or need allow a scammer to take advantage of you. Many impostors are pretending to be from the Treasury Department and the IRS.
• Social Media Messages: The US government will never ask you for personal or financial information over Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media. A rising number of scams offering to pay medical bills for seniors, give out emergency grants or deliver additional money. Each takes you to a phony website to steal valuable information from you.
• Fake Social Security Number Requests: The Social Security Administration received over 450,000 complaints last year of scammers asking for Americans’ Social Security numbers. This number is likely to increase during this pandemic, with scammers posing as the IRS to request Social Security numbers. You should never give out this information unless it is through an approved government portal.
• Small Business Administration Loan Scams: Any email communication from SBA will come from accounts ending with sba.gov. If you have a question about getting an SBA disaster loan, call 800-659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
• Processing Fees: Despite some peoples’ promise to get your money quickly if you pay a small fee, it is false. Checks will be sent directly to you or deposited in your account.
• Cash Advances: Some lenders offer to give you an advance on your stimulus money. The catch: you pay a high-interest rate which can add up quickly, costing you more than it is worth.
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Tips to Spot a Government Imposter Scam:
• Stay calm. Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is. Scammers try to get people to act before thinking about the situation.
• Don't reply directly. Don’t respond to unknown calls, texts, or emails. If you think the message may be real, find the government agencies’ contact information on the internet and contact them directly.
• Check for look-alikes. Research to see if the government agency or organization that contacted you actually exists. Scammers often makeup names of agencies and/or grants.
• Do not pay any money for a "free" government grant or program. It is not really free if there is a fee involved. A real government agency will not ask for an advanced processing fee. Instead, find out if the agency is legitimate by checking grants.gov.
• Report any scam attempts to the BBB’s Scam Tracker.
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