Diciembre 16, 2020
Alert on supposed support: “Payment of Economic Impact” from the IRS for migrant workers in México
Recently a letter, supposedly from the International Revenue Services (IRS), has been in social networks like WhatsApp. The International Revenue Service, within the Treasury Department is the tax collection agency of the United States. In the last months, the IRS has issued economic impact payments that have supported the COVID-19 pandemic. The persons entitled to receive payment are those who have declared their taxes with a social security number in recent years, including workers with H-2B visas, according to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES).
However, the letter circulating through networks lately has many signs that it is a possible fraud. For example, the language used in the letter does not have the formality of a government institution. It also proposes a method of getting the support that does not correspond to the protocol already established by the government for requesting support. Also, the letter does not use a government email address, but a Gmail address.
Although economic impact payments do exist, this letter probably has no connection with these official payments and does not come from the IRS or any official source. Rather the letter represents a possible fraud that may put your personal safety identity at risk with your social security number and address. Remember that sharing personal or confidential information can create a risk of identity theft. So be careful and remember that your social security number is yours. Don’t share it with other people.
If you have any questions about Economic Impact Payment, don’t hesitate to contact us. El Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. does not share information that is not verifiable, we are a non-governmental organization and all our services are free. You can reach us via the following phone numbers: 800-590-1773 from México. From the United States 1-855-234-9699.
Take care of your identity documents, do not share them!
Down the letter that has circulated: