Monday, March 30, 2020

Scams involving stimulus payments

Legislation approved by Congress and signed into law on Friday by President Donald J. Trump authorizes federal stimulus payments to those who qualify. 

The Internal Revenue Service is seeing a significant increase in scams involving criminals trying to gather information needed for the stimulus payments.  

The IRS -- one of the Rhode Island Division of Taxation's partners in the Security Summit -- reports that it is seeing phone calls, text messages, and e-mails phishing for information from individual taxpayers as well as tax preparers.  

The criminals are sending messages such as the following: "In order to receive your  stimulus payment via direct deposit, we need you to confirm the banking information." 

The criminals are gathering the information via telephone, or directing victims to click on a link that takes them to a website where they enter their banking information. The criminals then use the information to raid people's bank accounts or for other illegal purposes.

Government agencies, including the IRS and the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, will not call, text, or email you requesting information about the federal stimulus payments.

Tax preparers are urged to beware of phishing calls, emails, or texts that include language such as: “In order to receive your client’s stimulus payment by direct deposit, you must confirm their bank information.” 


More information


  • If you receive a suspicious email or text requesting information, report it. Do not click on links or open any attachments.
  • If clients need to file a return to receive a stimulus payment, there may be more fraudulent zero balance or small balance returns filed.
  • Due to the extended July 15 tax deadline, criminals may try to obtain clients’ personal information, then file returns before clients do.
  • For details on federal stimulus payments, see the IRS's latest announcement. Also, monitor the IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief webpage.
  • For information related to Rhode Island state taxes, see the Division's coronavirus webpage.

(Editor's Note: The Rhode Island Division of Taxation does not have a role in issuing the new federal stimulus payments and is providing the information above as a public service for taxpayers and tax preparers.)