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