Scam alert - stimulus payments

Scam Alert: The federal government is seeing an increase in scams related to federal stimulus payments including phone calls, text messages and e-mails phishing for information. 

The messaging includes variations of language such as:

"in order to receive your/your client's stimulus payment via direct deposit, we need you to confirm the banking information" 

and they are gathering that information via telephone or directing victims to click on a link that takes them to a website where they enter their banking information. 

Here’s some important things to know:

• The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money.
• The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.

If you spot a scam, please tell the Federal Trade Commission. The Washington State Office of the Attorney General also has information and resources for reporting scams.