The lingering uncertainty surrounding the second round of stimulus payments creates the perfect storm for fraudsters trying to make a dishonest dollar. Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Western Virginia warns the area of scammers looking to steal economic impact payments. BBB offers tips to avoid victim to these stimulus swindles.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans lost more than $211 million to COVID-19 scams and stimulus payment fraud. Since January, the FTC has received more than 275,600 complaints and BBB Scam Tracker reports 1,477 COVID-19 related scams filed across the United States. While fraud activity has decreased from the highs recorded earlier last year, it is expected to pick back up now that the $900 billion pandemic relief package, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, has been signed into law.

As part of the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020, the federal government will provide a second round of stimulus payments to eligible recipients.

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