Government News
Still Waiting For Your Stimulus Check
Illinois Department on Aging Warns Seniors About Possible Scams
Many of us have yet to receive those stimulus checks. If you are one of them, be
patient, it is coming, but also be careful.
Charles D. Johnson, director of the Illinois Department on Aging, is warning seniors
about attempts to con them out of their money.
"It's horrible that there are people preying on older citizens by stealing their
information in order to steal their money," Johnson said in a news release. "You
do not have to respond to a phone call nor e-mail in order to receive your economic
stimulus check. To find out when your check will arrive, contact the IRS."
The scam usually comes in the form of a bogus e-mail telling the recipient that
their check will be delayed unless they complete a form within a specified period
of time.
These scam e-mails usually use language such as "Our records indicate that you are
qualified to receive the 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund" and "To access Economic
Stimulus refund, please click here." Don't do it. These e-mails are not from the
IRS.
The IRS will not initiate communication with taxpayers via e-mail. If you wish to
communicate with the IRS online, you can go to www.irs.gov and select the "Where's
My Refund" link. You can also call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior Helpline
at (800) 252-8966, or for TTY (hearing impaired use only) call (888) 206-1327.
Nevertheless, there are some people the IRS is actively pursuing. These are people
who have not filed a tax return because they are receiving Social Security benefits,
Veterans Affairs benefits, pensions, or other income that may not be taxable. These
people may still qualify for a stimulus check, but because they haven't filed a
tax return, the IRS does not know where to find them. If any of these people have
not received their stimulus check, they must go to the IRS and fill out a 1040A
IRS form. Contact the IRS or go to their web site for more information.
To learn more, go to:
http://www.irs.gov
http://www.lakecountyjournals.com/articles/2008/06/11/local/news/doc48508f4cb072a603016176.txt
http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/062308/loc_localn02.shtml
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