MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a warning to new child tax credit applicants: Don’t get tricked.
In a press release from the BBB, the organization provided tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for applicants who may be vulnerable to scammers or con artists.
The BBB and FTC shared the following advice:
“Avoid Impostor scams - Government agencies like the IRS or Social Security Administration will not call, text, DM, or email you.
Do not give out any personal information, like social security numbers, bank account information, or credit/debit card numbers.
Eligibility requirements and payment disbursements are monitored by the IRS only.
When someone is requiring payments by gift card, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, it is likely a scam.”
The BBB also advised applicants to be wary of potential impostor scams, like unverified emails offering “help” with the credit. All email sources should be carefully reviewed before accepting any help or advice.
For more information on avoiding scams, the BBB also provided a list of advice in the form of an article called “10 Steps to avoid scams.”