July 2021 Scam Alert

Beginning this month, as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, eligible people will begin receiving monthly payments as an advance of their 2021 child tax credit. Grandparents raising grandchildren may be impacted. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send these payments by direct deposit, paper checks, and debit cards. If you qualify for the payments, you will automatically receive them around the 15th of each month. If you would like to opt-out of the advance payments or for more information, please visit www.irs.gov.

Unfortunately, scammers are always trying to steal our money, including payments like these. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued some important details on how to protect you and your payments.

• Only the IRS will send these payments. Anyone trying to “help” you is really after your money.

• The government will NEVER call, text, email, or direct message you unexpectedly. DO NOT give out your money or private information.

• No legitimate organization or business will ever demand you pay by gift card, wire transfer through companies like Money Gram or Western Union, or cryptocurrency. That is a scam, every time.

If someone tries to scam you out of these payments or anything else, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Sources: ftc.gov and irs.gov

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