Waiting for coronavirus relief bill payment?
- Kim Thompson: Better Business Bureau
- May 11, 2020
- 1074
The 2020 U.S. Census is coinciding with a global pandemic, shelter-in-place orders and government coronavirus relief bill payments. With so much going on at once, scammers are using the unique circumstances to sow confusion. Their goal is to get their hands on your personal information, which they can use to steal your identity.
You receive an unsolicited message via text, email or a social-media messenger. The message explains that in order to qualify for your coronavirus relief bill payment, you need to first complete the 2020 Census. Whether or not you’ve completed the real census, don’t click. It’s a scam.
Some versions of the phony message include a link to a website “for more information.” If you click the link, you could unknowingly download malware onto your computer or phone. This virus can give scammers access to your usernames, passwords and other personal information stored on your computer.
In other cases the link may take you to a website that looks like it was created by the official Census Bureau. However, the website is a fake. You will be asked for personal information such as your Social Security number and bank account information. The Census Bureau does not ask for this information.
Know how the Census Bureau communicates. The Census Bureau will only send you emails if you already signed up for them, and it will never ask you to send personal information in an email. In addition the Census Bureau will never contact you on behalf of a political party.
Only visit official websites. Valid U.S. government websites almost always end in “.gov.” You can find key information about the 2020 Census at www.2020census.gov and information about economic stimulus payments at www.irs.gov/coronavirus.
Never click on links in unsolicited messages. Phishing scams direct you to websites that look official, but these sites may be infected with malware. If you don’t know and trust the person who sent you the message, don’t click on any links.
Get tips from the Census Bureau about how to avoid census-related fraud and scams at www.2020census.gov/en/avoiding-fraud.html. Learn more about the stimulus payments on www.IRS.gov under Economic Impact Payments. Read up on phishing scams at www.BBB.org/PhishingScam. Visit www.BBB.org/Coronavirus to learn more about scams related to COVID-19.
If you’ve been a victim of a scam related to the 2020 Census or economic stimulus payments, be sure to report it at www.BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others to spot a scam before it’s too late.
Visit www.bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, follow on social media and more.