Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is telling Kansas residents to remain cautious, as there are number of scams related to the federal COVID-19 stimulus checks that are still in the process of being issued.

Qualifying individuals have been receiving tax-credit payments of up to $600, as authorized by Congress.

The new round of payments are issued via direct deposit to bank accounts, or in the form of a paper check mailed directly to qualifying individuals.

However Schmidt is advising to keep an eye out for potential scammers utilizing the following tactics:

• Internal Revenue Service will not ask you to pay anything up front in order to receive your payment. Nor will anyone from the federal government call, email, or text message you requesting for personal information–such as your Social Security number, bank account or credit card information.
• Anyone that may call and tell you that they can your check to you today is a scammer.
• The Federal Trade Commission has warned of facilities that claim that if a resident is on Medicaid, the facility is entitled to the payment. Nursing homes or other such facilities cannot claim a right to the payment if the resident is on Medicaid.

If you feel you have been contacted by a scammer, you can contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s office at www.ag.ks.gov.

You can also call (800) 432-2310 to request a paper complaint form in the mail.