Is this a scam? Covid Relief via an EPIC Card?

[Spy Car]

I was just sent an "EPIC card" (Economic Impact Payment Card) claiming to be enabled by an outfit called Money Network that I'm to activate as a way to release our stimulus money. It says Visa Debit card.

It has US Treasury all over this letter.

Is this for real? Are funds being distributed this way? Or is this a scam?

Bill

[prairiewindmomma]

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1012

https://www.eipcard.com/

This is what I could find directly. Our news is carrying stories on people not recognizing the cards because it seems scammy.

[Spy Car]

2 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said:

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1012

https://www.eipcard.com/

This is what I could find directly. Our news is carrying stories on people not recognizing the cards because it seems scammy.

Thanks. The second link is to the same outfit that sent the card.

It looks seriously "scammy." Perhaps I should not throw it out? LOL.

Bill

[Spy Car]

They want the last 6 digits of my Social Security number.

Bill

[Carol in Cal.]

Yes. I know someone else who got theirs that way.  It's really weird.

[sweet2ndchance]

I know someone who got theirs this way too.

[elegantlion]

Here's what I could find. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-issues-millions-of-second-economic-impact-payments-by-debit-card

[Spy Car]

10 minutes ago, Amoret said:

Our local news had this link, which gives a number you can call to have your payment issued as a check.

"BY ACTIVATING OR USING THIS CARD, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT ACTIVATE OR TRY TO USE THE CARD; YOU SHOULD CANCEL THE CARD BY CALLING CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTING YOUR FUNDS IN THE FORM OF A PAPER CHECK."

 

Thank you for that information. I wonder how long a check would take to process?

Bill

 

[Melissa in Australia]

I received bushfire relief money through a very similar card last summer. Though I was directly affected by a raging bushfire and everyone in my area received a card after lining up and registering  for it at an bushfire evacuation centre

[TheReader]

The IRS did say some are coming via a debit card, so it's possible. You could check the "get my payment" website (on the IRS website) and it will tell you how the funds were sent to you (so will confirm it was sent via debit card or not). 

 

[MercyA]

My mom called me a couple days ago to tell me she almost immediately tossed her stimulus payment because it looked like a fake debit card. She said the envelope's return address was Money Network in Nebraska. The card itself had U.S. Treasury on it somewhere. She looked it up on irs.gov and it was the real deal. She said it looked like scammy junk mail. 

We had ours directly deposited into our bank account.

ETA: Talked to her again tonight and she said they did ask for the last six digits of her SSN when she called to activate the card, then she had to choose a PIN. 

Edited January 14, 2021 by MercyA

[Lecka]

Not sure if this is the same thing — but I heard with a previous card, people were being charged some kind of processing fee depending on where/how they withdrew money — for people who needed to withdraw cash I think is the main thing I saw.

It’s a hazy memory, but I think I saw this with the first stimulus.  

[Spy Car]

3 hours ago, TheReader said:

The IRS did say some are coming via a debit card, so it's possible. You could check the "get my payment" website (on the IRS website) and it will tell you how the funds were sent to you (so will confirm it was sent via debit card or not). 

 

Followed the link. The IRS website wants my full SS# to confirm how the funds were sent.

I'm not delighted, but really appreciate the info.

Bill

 

 

[Jean in Newcastle]

IRS site  just says that payment was sent to my home address.  It doesn't say how that payment was sent (ie. a check or a debit card).  Either way, I haven't actually received anything here yet. 

[stephanier.1765]

Well that's just great because I, in all likelihood, threw this out. It looked scammy to me too.

[TheReader]

3 minutes ago, stephanier.1765 said:

Well that's just great because I, in all likelihood, threw this out. It looked scammy to me too.

if you never activated it/tossed it, likely you can still claim it as the tax credit when you file your taxes (we are going to have to do ours that way, as we closed the account it was sent to, before it was sent, so.....)

[TheReader]

2 hours ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

IRS site  just says that payment was sent to my home address.  It doesn't say how that payment was sent (ie. a check or a debit card).  Either way, I haven't actually received anything here yet. 

oh, hmmm. Ours was deposited to a (previously closed, so we don't actually have it) bank account.  I didn't realize they wouldn't say whether it was check or card that got mailed to you.