• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Beware of anyone who reaches out about your government stimulus check

Beware of anyone who reaches out about your government stimulus check

January 12, 2021 By Matt Kelley

Federal stimulus checks are arriving in Iowans’ bank accounts and mailboxes, while scammers are hoping to dupe people out of that money — which can be several hundred dollars.

Bao Vang, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, says Iowans should be very cautious in dealing with anyone who contacts you about the stimulus payments.

“Don’t reply directly. Don’t respond to the call, text, or email,” Vang says. “If you think the message is real, find the government agency’s contact information on their website and then contact them directly.”

Vang says to resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the caller’s story might be. She says scammers try to get people to act before thinking about the situation.

Also, Vang says to beware of look-alikes, like callers from the “Internal Revenue Department.”

“Scammers often make up names of agencies,” Vang says, “and sometimes these names can be very similar to the ones we know and trust.”

Vang says you should never have to pay a fee for a “free” government check, grant or program, as it’s not really free if there is a fee involved.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News

Featured Stories

DOT plow crews struggling against blizzard conditions

Iowa delegation breaks along party lines on Trump impeachment vote

Two northeast Iowa men admit to illegally harvesting ginseng

Do you have to pay tax on your stimulus check?

All six in Iowa’s congressional delegation confirm Electoral College results

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State-Kansas postponed

Iowa-Michigan State postponed

Fire damage to Riverfront Stadium electrical system will cost Waterloo thousands

Iowa State at Kansas State postponed

Iowa State’s Foster to miss remainder of the season

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC