Stimulus package provokes scammers

President Bush’s economic stimulus package has not yet been approved, and already, there are those scheming to take that money, should you even receive it.

The FBI has announced that scammers are already at work. In this latest phone-related scam, someone calls and claims to be from the IRS. The caller claims that, in order for you to get your rebate check, you must first give the caller your personal information, which includes your social security number. That alone gives the scammer access to your personal finance information. The scammer may also ask for bank account and credit card numbers.

Such information should never be given out over the phone. The FBI says the IRS does not operate this way, especially in regard to sending out any possible refund or rebate checks from the government.

If someone calls you asking for personal information, do not comply. Instead, try to get as much information from them, including phone numbers, then hang up and notify local authorities. Such scam artists not only try to steal money from unsuspecting citizens, they may also steal a person’s identity, which can take years for the victim to recover, both monetarily as well as in reputation.