ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Is it a much-needed stimulus payment or a scam?
The federal government has been distributing the second round of coronavirus relief payments through direct deposit, checks and debit cards.
Those who live in New Mexico and other Western states are more likely to receive a debit card than a check, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
It’s a good thing to be suspicious when an unsolicited check or debit card arrives in your mail. Same goes for providing a Social Security number to someone over the phone.
At the same time, you definitely don’t want to miss out on collecting the government’s second round of aid, so here are some things to know.
The so-called Economic Impact Payment debit card will come in an envelope with a return address of “Money Network Cardholder Services.” This round, the envelope also will bear the U.S. Treasury Department seal in an effort to keep people from thinking it’s junk mail.
Each mailing will include instructions on how to securely activate and use the card.
The front will show the Visa name, while the back carries the name “MetaBank, N.A.”
The correct number to activate the card is 800-240-8100. You will be asked to provide your name, address and, yes, your Social Security number to create a four-digit PIN, according to the IRS. The PIN is required to get cash or to use the card anywhere that accepts VISA debit cards.
You can also get cash from domestic in-network ATMs, transfer funds to a personal bank account and obtain a replacement card if needed without incurring any fees.
You can track your payment by going to www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.
Here are some general ways to protect yourself while accessing these payments, according to the IRS and AARP:
- Make sure to use only the 800 phone number provided to activate your card. Do not search for one online. “Scammers sometimes set up fake customer service numbers to deceive people and take their personal information,” AARP says.
- For security reasons, don’t use personal information as your PIN.
- Don’t provide your PIN, debit card number or Social Security number to anyone who calls or texts you. The IRS will not contact you regarding your stimulus payment.
- Beware of websites and social media attempts that request money or personal information as part of a scheme connected to the payments.
If you do throw out your payment or lose the card, you can recover the money by calling the 800 activation number. The card will be deactivated, and a new one will be issued at no cost.
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If you get a text message about a free year’s worth of Netflix, do not click on the offered link.
It’s a scam, according to the Better Business Bureau.
The link will take you to a website where you will be asked to provide some personal information and a payment method.
The BBB says one victim who fell for it had his credit card charged repeatedly, even after he demanded a refund. He ended up spending money on something that wasn’t free and wasn’t Netflix.
Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3842 if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210.
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