|
NEWARK
– Con artists attempting to steal
personal information are contacting New
Jersey residents and falsely stating that
bank account and/or social security numbers
must be provided to them in order for economic
stimulus checks to be sent to consumers.
Acting
Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo
warned residents to be aware of this scam
and to not provide any personal information
to callers who claim to be U.S. Treasury
or I.R.S. officials or to respond to such
emails.
“These
con artists attempt to scare consumers into
divulging personal information in order
to allegedly facilitate direct deposit of
economic stimulus checks into the consumers’
bank accounts,” DeMarzo said. “The
federal government already has the needed
information from the tax forms filed by
consumers.”
DeMarzo
said New Jersey consumers have reported
receiving both telephone calls and emails
from con artists attempting to perpetrate
this scam.
“Never
provide personal information to unknown
callers and unsolicited emails,” he
cautioned. “Identity thieves will
use bank account numbers to attempt to empty
accounts and also to apply for credit cards
in the consumer’s name.”
Consumers
can report this and other scam attempts
to the Division of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846
(toll-free in New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
The Division also can be contacted via its
web site, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
# # # |
