Rebate Check Scam

EDNA LAWRENCE MAY BE 69 YEARS OLD...BUT SHE'S NO PUSHOVER...

"Once he asked me for my checking account number I knew that my social number would be the next thing he asked for. He wasn't about to get either one."     
     

SHE SAYS SHE GOT ABOUT EIGHT CALLS FROM A MAN CLAIMING HE WAS FROM THE IRS...AND HAD A REBATE CHECK FOR HER. HE WANTED HER BANK INFORMATION so he could DIRECT DEPOSIT THE CHECK.

"He just said we were owed $400 and we were to receive it back and that's the only way we could get it."

LAWRENCE CALLED THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO COMPLAIN.

THE OFFFICE GOT SO MANY COMPLAINTS...IT PUT OUT A CONSUMER ALERT...THE AG SAYS HARD ECONOMIC TIMES WILL LEAD PEOPLE TO ACT BEFORE THEY THINK...

"Here is my concern. that is people may think this may or may not be true but what can it hurt for me to go ahead and give out my bank account number."

EVERYONE'S A TARGET.

AS MANY AS 128 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL GET REBATE CHECKS AS PART OF THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.  KEVIN KOLBYE IS WITH THE FBI.                  
                  

"If they can call 200 people in one day and can get five to ten individuals that will provide them with their personal identification numbers and social security and date of births and banking information they have had a successful day."

SO HERE'S THE DEAL. THE I-R-S SAYS MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO GET THEIR TAX REBATES THIS YEAR BESIDES FILE their TAXES.

WHAT'S MORE OFFICIALS SAY THEY WON'T BE SOLICITING PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE OR THROUGH E-MAIL---EVER.