IRS: Some Stimulus Checks Sent to Wrong Accounts...

Through the wonders of modern technology, some of those federal economic stimulus checks are being deposited directly into recipients' bank accounts.

But some are not - and are instead winding up in the bank accounts of complete strangers.

"We do know of instances of problems; we've heard of situations where stimulus checks have gone to the wrong people's bank accounts," conceded Kevin McKeon, the Internal Revenue Service spokesman for the New York region. "We're getting a lot of calls to the toll-free number."

One local taxpayer, who asked not to be identified, reported that he had discovered an unexpected deposit of $1,800 in his bank account. He said a review of his bank records revealed that it was a deposit from the IRS bearing another taxpayer's Social Security number. He said he contacted the IRS and was told by an agent that the deposit was one of 15,000 misrouted checks sent out incorrectly as a result of a computer programming glitch. MORE

************************************************************
IRS says up to 350,000 didn't get child credit

AP-WASHINGTON -The Internal Revenue Service says up to 350,000 households didn't get their $300 per child refund that should have been part of their economic stimulus rebate checks.

The tax agency says human error and computer glitches were responsible for the problem affecting a tiny percentage of the 130 million taxpayers expected to benefit from the paybacks.

The agency plans to mail out checks in July to those who missed out on the child refund.

****************************************************************

IRS warns of e-mail scam

The Internal Revenue Service has discovered a new scam that empties bank accounts by trying to get eager stimulus check recipients to give vital banking information over the Internet, officials said.

Mark Green, an IRS spokesperson, said Wednesday that an alert person received an e-mail Tuesday purportedly from the IRS asking the recipient to click a link and fill in their banking information to have their forthcoming economic stimulus checks directly deposited into their accounts.

Green said that the person notified the IRS and that agency is working with other federal agencies to track down the source of the scam.

"We don't send out e-mails," Green said. "So that kills it right there."

Green said that the e-mail also contains typographical and grammatical errors that should send red flags to taxpayers.

The e-mail claims that the recipient has until May 10 to sign up for direct deposit to avoid having their economic stimulus checks delayed by being mailed, Green said.

In addition to the threat to a person's banking information, the scam could also open unsuspecting people up for scammers to gain access to other vital information stored on the hard drives of the victim's computer, Green said.

"Someone could easily click on the link in the e-mail and, with technology as advanced as it is, could have their whole hard drive compromised," Green said.

The scam is the latest attempt by criminals to exploit the government's stimulus check program.

Green said that if anyone receives an e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, they should delete it immediately and notify the IRS.

******************************************************************

See a couple earlier blogs for warnings on phishing scams:

IRS Phishing Scams Increase at Tax Time

Beware of E-Mail and Telephone Phishing Scams...

**************************************************************************

Don't Forget to listen to Spotlight -all shows will remain in the archive and can be listened to anytime on the internet and/or downloaded from iTunes.

Yesterday: An interview with Aaron Titus from ssnbreach.org
This growing site allows users to search and find out if their personal data has been leaked in a data breach.

Thursday, May 22nd: NACA Attorney Robert Sola offers a revealing look at why some consumers sue the credit bureaus. Here's a link to just one of his many cases: Consumer Wins $2.7 Mil Lawsuit Against Equifax For Screwing Up Her Credit.

Set A show reminder here: