9 Tips To Protect Your Stimulus Check From Thieves

CLEVELAND — With many Americans set to receive a stimulus payment from the federal government, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is warning residents to avoid scams and thieves.

Under the federal government's stimulus plan, individual taxpayers who make less than $75,000 will receive a payment of $1,200. Married couples filing jointly, who make less than $150,000, will receive a payment of $2,400. An additional $500 will be paid out to families for every child in their house under the age of 17.

Direct deposit payments could hit bank accounts in three weeks, but Ohioans expecting a paper check may have to wait a bit longer, Yost said.

“Thieves are drooling at the thought of getting their hands on your stimulus money,” Yost said. “Use these tips to send them home with nothing but the bitter taste of defeat.”

Here are the attorney general's tips to avoid losing your stimulus check:

• No one has to sign up to receive a stimulus check. The IRS will use prior tax returns to calculate the payment.
• No one has to pay money to receive their stimulus check. The government will not ask for payment upfront.
• Avoid anyone saying they can obtain an "instant" stimulus payment for you.
• Do not provide personal information or pay a processing fee to anyone promising a quicker stimulus payment.
• Don't click on links or download attachments from an email unless you know the source and know the email is legitimate. Unintentionally downloading malware could give thieves access to your personal information.
• The government will not call anyone asking for their Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers.
• Do not disclose your PayPal information — no one needs a PayPayl account to receive a stimulus payment. All payments will either be made via direct deposit or mailed to an Ohioan.
• If you receive a stimulus check and it is for an odd amount of money, or it states you need to verify the check online or over the phone — it's a scam.
• You should get a paper notice in the mail a couple of weeks after your stimulus payment is sent. The notice should say where the payment was sent and when. If you can't locate the payment at that point, call the IRS or visit the IRS website.