Morris County Prosecutor Warns of Stimulus Check Scams
Morris County residents should be on the lookout for criminal scammers who are looking to take an illegal bite out of your government stimulus checks during this COVID-19 pandemic, warns Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp.
The recent national attention on the Economic Impact Payments, or COVID-19 relief stimulus checks, is one such opportunity for scammers, he said.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service advises that scammers are calling and/or emailing individuals and claiming to be from the Treasury Department. These scammers are offering expedited stimulus payments or assistance with obtaining a stimulus payment.
According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, residents do not need to pay taxes or processing fees in order to obtain the relief stimulus payment.
Prosecutor Knapp advises if you receive a call asking for personal information or for fees to obtain a stimulus check, do not give the caller any personal information or do not send money. Just hang up.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offers the following tips for protecting yourself and others against incoming mail theft:
- Promptly pickup mail, or arrange for prompt pickup
- Inquire about overdue mail
- File a change of address if you move
On March 30, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced the creation of a Federal-State COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to investigate and prosecute those who exploit the COVID-19 pandemic by defrauding others.
If you believe you have been victimized, please notify the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at 866-720-5721, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200, or your local police department.
Don't be fooled! If you receive a call asking for personal information or a fee to get your stimulus check, it's a scam. https://t.co/Yq4V0vhHi9
— Morris County NJ (@MorrisCountyNJ) April 17, 2020
