As the economic stimulus tax rebate checks pour forth from the US Treasury, it is important to be wary of where you spend the money. Indeed, the scammers are out in full force, looking for ways to co-opt your economic stimulus payment, or just use it as a way to get your personal information. (Disregard emails or mailings saying that you need to send specific information -- especially bank account numbers -- to speed up your tax rebate.)
Schemes abound as well. They may not be technically scams, but they are attempts to look "official" and get you to spend your economic stimulus payment in certain places. One of these was brought to my attention by Kelly the Taxgirl. She explains that an official looking envelope arrives, stamped with such messages as "Housing Stimulus Rebate Enclosed" and "Documented Mail." (Both of these are erroneous terms.) She then explains what's really in the envelope:
The letter advises me that the FHA has “authorized us to assist in substantially reducing your over-all monthly payments and interest rate on your mortgage.”
Mortgage?
That’s right - this so-called “Housing Stimulus Rebate” is really a solicitation for a refinance from Mike Hall (yep, plugging his name in so that you’ll know who is responsible) of The Money Store.
Let this be a warning to you: Do not send off your economic stimulus payment in response to unsolicited offers. Carefully consider your options, and then look for the best way to spend your economic stimulus payment.
Hint: That option probably won't arrive in the mail.
image credit: US government
Before you get a payday loan just be sure that it just cannot merely a dummy of the payday loan before you get it just be sure of the creditability of that loans. Because of the issue of the payday loan scams. If you need payday loans, you’ve got reputable sites like PersonalMoneyStore.com to go. If you need credit counseling or debt consolidation, there are reliable companies out there that can help, and even websites that can help you restore a good credit report on your own. However, there are a lot of scams out there, new and old, to watch out for in 2009. The credit crunch is causing people to pose as credit counselors and prey on people trying to get out of debt. Many have fallen victim to con artists, frauds and scammers. It’s important that you know how to protect yourself from this ruthless doing. For example, if anyone asks you to pay debt-relief service fees upfront, without doing any work for you first, run! Also if someone is offering you payday loans, but you haven’t been approved yet, and they ask you to pay a fee, it is most likely a con. If you get offered a “job” saying you can work from home, but you must first pay for instructions or contact lists, don’t buy it. I recommend you read this article I found that talks about overpayment scams, and to learn more about how payday loans can help instead of hurt.
Posted by: Ethan I. | January 19, 2009 2:02 AM | Permalink to Comment