To find the status of your CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) stimulus check, or your eligibility, log onto the website https://www.irs.gov/ coronavirus/get-mypayment. Do not worry when seeing the warning “THIS U.S. GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IS FOR AUTHORIZED USE ONLY!” Go ahead and click the “ok” button and you will be taken to the sign-in screen. This is the ONLY legitimate government-owned website that provides real information. It is NOT a scam web site.
As United States taxpayers and legal residents anticipate CARES stimulus payments deposited to their checking accounts electronically or by mail, telephone and email scammers are aggressively stepping up their rip-off schemes. US government agencies report that Coronavirus and identity theft swindles have increased by over 33% nationwide since the beginning of March. With many more people sheltering at home, more fake telephone pitches and phony emails were reported to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) than any other month since the crash of 2008.
The US Government provides tools we can all use to reduce successful scams being perpetrated against us. This is doubly important if we are also providing care for another, such as an elderly parent.
These tools are located on one easy-to-use website at www.usa.gov/scams-andfrauds.
Common scams listed on the government web site include:
- Coronavirus scams, rumors, and price gouging practices
- Banking fraud
- Telephone and Internet fraudulent schemes
- Identity theft
- Medical fraud
- Census Personal Information fraud
- False lottery and sweepstakes prizes
- Charity & Ticket schemes
- Pyramid, Ponzi, and Investment frauds
- Government grant fraud
For a scam to work, the criminal must scare or trick a victim into revealing personal information: credit card numbers, checking account information, Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, birthdates, phone numbers, mother’s maiden name, mailing addresses, driver license numbers, account passwords, and more.
As an example, with the increase of online ordering for pickup or delivered restaurant meals, credit card fraud has escalated. This can happen when an online shopper pays for a purchase by giving their credit card number, full name as shown on the card, expiration date, AND the CVV. The Card Verification Value (CVV) is a three-digit security code printed on the back of the credit card. Its purpose is to assure the merchant that the purchaser has the physical card in hand.
However, once a scammer has the information (including the CVV), they can go online to order big dollar items elsewhere. This information can also be captured by a dishonest employee, bunched with several others and sold in a block on the black market.
Fortunately, for US credit card users, a ‘scammed’ card is financially protected. Fraudulent transactions are removed upon reporting the theft to the card issuer. By law, the maximum card holder financial exposure is $50.
Check with your bank or credit card issuer and ask if they have a program which substitutes your real credit card number with a ‘virtual’ one for online purchases. With such a program, all transactions for each merchant have a unique ‘virtual’ number that cannot be used anywhere else. This masks your real credit card information, including the CVV, and fraudulent charge card attempts using it with another merchant will raise an immediate ‘red flag’. One example of this kind of program is Capital One Bank’s credit card ENO assistant. However, this protection only works within the United States. If the scammer attempts an international purchase this protection likely will not apply.
If a fraudulent practice is done over the Internet there is one agency that will accept a report and get it to all applicable local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. This is the Internet Crime Complaint Center www.IC3.gov. Victims may not get their money back but reporting a fraud attempt helps law enforcement catch the perpetrators wherever they are located.
Several Federal and State agency websites are available to help victims of fraud or identity theft. Local police are most effective in fraud prevention if the victim can positively identify the swindler and report their address or telephone number.
For medical fraud, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Drug Agency (FDA), and the IRS will all actively pursue online companies promising fake cures or home Coronavirus test kits. The State of California Attorney General’s Office will investigate consumer complaints and pursue cases of Coronavirus related price gouging.
Other agencies that will investigate and punish cybercriminals include: the Social Security Administration (SSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Medicare Fraud Office, US Department of Justice (DOJ), and local agencies such as the State Attorney General, or the State Department of Consumer Affairs.
As mentioned earlier, one master website that helps users avoid scam attempts and helps them find what assistance is available to fraud victims is www.usa. gov/scams-and-frauds. However, if you feel you would like personal assistance from a US government agent, then contact the USAGov Contact Center. Information Specialists can help individuals navigate the complexities of federal, state, and local governments to find the information they need.
There are two ways to reach the USAGov Contact Center:
- Call 1-844-USAGOV1 (1-844-872-4681) 8:00am to 8:00pm ET, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) to speak with an information specialist in English or Spanish.
- Chat online with an information specialist in English at www.usa.gov/ chat or use the Spanish chat page, also 8:00am to 8:00pm ET, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays).
Agents will not have individual stimulus check information but can direct callers to the proper department. While the coronavirus crisis lasts there may be an extended wait time for assistance.