| Have you already received your Tax Rebate | | | | attempt to lure you to a website to gain personal |
| check, or as they are now referred to, Economic | | | | or financial information. One of the newest scams |
| Stimulus Check? Do you know the facts about | | | | is a message that appears to be from the |
| this check? Do you know how yours will be | | | | Internal Revenue Service delivered to your email |
| delivered? Do you have important plans for your | | | | address. And like many other phishing scams this |
| check? Just getting by? Paying off bills? No | | | | message appears to be authentic and legitimate, |
| matter what you have planned our first concern | | | | especially since many tax payers file electronically |
| is for the safe delivery of the check. With so | | | | and use their email address to confirm their filing |
| many rumors floating around I decided to some | | | | status. |
| research and find out more about the Economic | | | | This message is used to gain your name, address, |
| Stimulus Check and dispel the myths surrounding | | | | social security and even bank account information |
| it. | | | | and provides you with a link to a website and the |
| The Economic Stimulus Check is a tax rebate to | | | | instructions to "click the link below and fill out the |
| taxpayers as a result of several income tax | | | | necessary information to receive your 2008 |
| changes. Payments are sent out over the course | | | | Stimulus Economic Refund." If you do click the link, |
| of several weeks, with the mailing date to vary | | | | you are at the very least verifying that the |
| according the last two digits of the taxpayers | | | | message was sent to a "real" email address, |
| Social Security number. For tax payers who filed | | | | leaving yourself open to other phishing scams, |
| electronically and had their tax refund direct | | | | even if you do not complete the "form." |
| deposited (or payment direct withdrawal) your | | | | The Internal Revenue Service website requests |
| income tax rebate will be direct deposited to your | | | | that if you receive this message you forward it |
| bank that was used for your deposit or payment. | | | | to . Do not open it. Not only can this message be |
| Taxpayers who submitted their income tax return | | | | a phishing scam but it could also contain viruses |
| via mail will have their checks issued the same | | | | harmful to your computer. The information stolen |
| day as those who filed electronically, however, | | | | is all that is needed to intercept your Economic |
| their payments will be delivered via regular U.S. | | | | Stimulus check or even to steal your identity. |
| mail. If you have not paid your taxes or filed your | | | | Many antivirus and email programs contain phishing |
| return yet, your rebate will be held until that step | | | | detection, but if you don't, or if you are worried |
| is completed. | | | | about the quality of the messages you receive |
| Many already know the amount to be issued to | | | | you may look into purchasing an antivirus |
| tax payers: $600.00 for individual taxpayer, | | | | software system that also provides phishing scam |
| $1200.00 for married filing jointly, and a possible | | | | detection, such as Stopzilla, F-Secure Internet |
| $300.00 per qualifying child, born after December, | | | | Security Suite, or AVG Internet Security (one of |
| 1990. However, many people do not know that | | | | the for pay products) Trend Micro PC-cillin and |
| they may not receive those amounts. It is | | | | many more antivirus products are designing their |
| possible that your Economic Stimulus Check may | | | | software to detect and stop phishing scams |
| be offset by back taxes owed, unpaid student | | | | before they can do harm to your computer, |
| loans and several other government factors. How | | | | information and credit. |
| will this affect you? It is hard to tell, and you | | | | Have all your questions regarding your Economic |
| won't know your exact amount until your check | | | | Stimulus Check answered at the official IRS.gov |
| arrives. | | | | website. Not only does it offer a section of |
| With the availability of money and the use of | | | | Frequently Asked Questions, but it also provides |
| technology, it is no wonder that a new phishing | | | | the opportunity to legitimately check the status |
| scam has been created regarding the Economic | | | | of your check. |
| Stimulus Check. Phishing scams are emails that | | | | |