The US Treasury has been sending stimulus payments in the form of prepaid debit cards to those without direct deposit information on file with the IRS.
As supplying personal identifiable information is required to activate the cards, criminals have already started to take advantage of the situation by creating fraudulent cards with accompanying letters containing a false phone number to steal personal information.
In addition, some recipients have also questioned the legitimacy of their real cards, and have destroyed or discarded them, which may lead to fees for replacement cards. Please use the included photo to verify your cards. The government-issued card will have the words “VISA” and “DEBIT” on the front and back, and can be activated by calling a designated number listed on the letter that corresponds with the debit card.
If you have any questions or concerns about the legitimacy of your government-issued debit card, please contact the IRS directly at 800.919.9835 or 800.829.1040.
