If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Keep that adage in mind this tax season. There are a number of scams floating about which purport to get you more cash, faster. You should keep in mind that the government doesn’t use “middle men” to get you a refund faster or to increase the amount of money that you might be entitled to. All of those ads on sites like Facebook and others with wads of cash and Obama’s picture on them? Despite what they claim, they are not associated with any government-mandated stimulus plan. My advice: stay away from them.
If you don’t believe me, consider this warning from the FTC:
Web sites may advertise that they can help you get money from the stimulus fund. Many use deceptive names or images of President Obama and Vice President Biden to suggest they are legitimate. They’re not. Don’t fall for it. If you do, you’ll get scammed.
If you’ve already been affected, you can file a complaint in English or Spanish by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or filing a complaint online. For more information, visit the FTC web site.
