Important Information about Economic Impact Payments

April 16, 2020

The first round of the IRS’ Economic Impact Payments were directly deposited into many American’s accounts this week. During this time, it is critical that you remember that criminals will use the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the issuance of the Economic Impact Payments to commit fraudulent schemes. We want to help protect you, your personal information and your money. If you have not yet received your payment and want to check your eligibility, or have questions, please visit www.irs.gov/eip for more information.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned against several scams centered around COVID-19. Here are helpful tips to prevent falling victim to one of these scams: 

• Don’t respond to texts, eMails, or calls about checks that seem to come from the government—the government will not call you about your Economic Impact Payment.
• Ignore online offers for vaccinations and COVID-19 at-home test kits. 
• Hang up on robocalls. 
• Watch for eMails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control or World Health Organization.
• Be wary of organizations or individuals soliciting donations. Never donate in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money and do your research before you donate.

Government officials and most financial institutions will never ask for personal or financial information through eMail, text, or unsolicited phone calls. If you have a question about an eMail, text or call you’ve received from your financial institution, you should contact them directly. We understand the concern and uncertainty you’re likely experiencing as a result of the evolving challenges surrounding COVID-19. We remain committed to keeping you informed about the precautions you should take, and the steps we’re taking to protect our customers and our team members during this time.