Stimulus check scammers ask you to sign up for PayPal account. Don't do it

Do not give anyone your PayPal account information, Social Security number, bank account number or anything else if someone claims such information is essential to sign you up for a stimulus check relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

It's a not. It's a scam.

It's time to warn consumers that once again, we need to practice some real social distancing from the scammers.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Thursday issued what she called "an urgent consumer alert" relating to scammers who play up federal stimulus checks.

In other states, the Better Business Bureau has reported that the level of "stimulus scams" has gone through the roof.

The real stimulus cash is likely to hit bank accounts within the next three weeks or later, but taxpayers do not have to sign up to get the money. Checks are expected to take longer. And yes, some people could experience delays.

It's estimated that as many as 150 million U.S. households would be eligible to receive full or partial payments, according to the Tax Policy Center.

Consumers are already reporting that they've received phishing emails, according to Nessel's alert, that include phony websites that look official.

The scammers are demanding that potential victims provide PayPal, bank account or other financial information to get a much-talked-about stimulus check that is part of the federal economic relief package.

More: Stimulus checks can't come fast enough in Michigan: Everything we know so far

More: How scammers could use coronavirus scare to steal your money

Anyone who receives such texts or emails should ignore them or delete them. Never click on links because you might download malware onto your computer.

In some cases, fake phishing scams might ask for a person’s bank account information and insist $1,000 or more will be deposited directly into his or her bank account. Again, it's a scam.

Consumers are not going to need to sign up for the stimulus checks.

Under the program, all U.S. residents with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 ($150,000 married), who are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a work eligible Social Security number, are eligible for the full rebate check.

They would receive $1,200 per adult — or $2,400 married — as part of a stimulus rebate. In addition, they are eligible for an additional $500 per child.

"This is true even for those who have no income, as well as those whose income comes entirely from non-taxable means-tested benefit programs, such as SSI benefits," according to the Senate compromise.

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No action will be required for the vast majority of Americans.

The Internal Revenue Service will use a taxpayer's 2019 tax return or a 2018 tax return for information in order to send out the money via direct deposit or check.

The rebate amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 that a taxpayer’s income exceeds the phase-out threshold. The amount is completely phased-out for single filers with incomes exceeding $99,000, $146,500 for head of household filers with one child, and $198,000 for joint filers with no children.

See the IRS web site: www.irs.gov/coronavirus for updates. Right now, the IRS says do not call about the checks. Check the website for updates.

The IRS says: "No sign up needed."

Contact Susan Tompor at 313-222-8876 or stompor@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @tompor. Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter.