$8,700 Stimulus Checks from IRS in 2024 for Qualifying Individuals?

In June 2024, Google customers searched far and huge for solutions relating to a rumor claiming qualifying Individuals would every obtain an $8,700 stimulus examine. Some customers tapping on the Google search bar might have seen a “trending search” displayed as “irs $8700 stimulus examine irs gov.” This trending search appeared to point IRS.gov contained extra particulars about some new stimulus examine laws.

The “trending searches” checklist displayed different scorching matters alongside the search about stimulus checks, together with North Korea sending balloons carrying manure and trash into South Korea, and a girl partially swallowed by quicksand on a Maine seashore.

The point out of stimulus checks would possibly remind some U.S. readers of the COVID-19 economic impact payments and child tax credit payments from 2020 and 2021. These real funds got here immediately from the IRS.

To be clear, this rumor claiming the IRS was issuing $8,700 stimulus checks in 2024 is fake. If the stimulus examine providing have been actual, distinguished information web sites would broadly cowl the developments. We discovered no credible information studies about any new stimulus checks in June 2024.

Snopes contacted the IRS by e mail to ask concerning the false rumor. In response, IRS media relations specialist Robert Marvin directed us to a news release from July 2023 warning of text-message and e mail scams enjoying off the real financial impression funds from 2020 and 2021. A part of that information launch learn, “However whereas the stimulus funds ended way back, the associated scheme has developed and altered as rip-off artists search for new methods to regulate their message to trick individuals.”

Scams Promising Stimulus Checks, Subsidies, Incentives and Advantages

As of this writing, it isn’t completely clear why the search about $8,700 stimulus checks from the IRS trended within the first place. Previously, similar false claims of free money for Americans originated in scammy paid advertisements exhibited to customers on Fb, Instagram, YouTube or another social media platform or web site. These paid advertisements claimed the present U.S. president, Congress, the IRS or another government-affiliated individual or physique accepted or can be issuing cash or checks within the type of a stimulus, subsidy, incentive or benefit.

Customers who clicked on these previous paid advertisements landed on web sites not affiliated with the federal government. These web sites requested customers to fill out surveys, apparently to refer customers to firms within the case they certified for varied providers for householders, seniors or different teams of customers. Relying on the advert, a fee price may need been the objective of the individuals managing the false advertisements, maybe for the referral and assortment of consumer information.

Real Help Applications

The official authorities web site USA.gov warns, “The federal government doesn’t supply free cash or grants to individuals for private wants.” Readers in search of official web sites providing federal help packages ought to confer with the next data from the identical USA.gov web page:

Federal help packages can present monetary assist with residing bills or enterprise prices. Use these free, official authorities web sites to seek for packages you is likely to be eligible for:

• Benefits.gov – meals, housing, well being care, youngster care, Social Safety, and extra
• GovLoans.gov – small enterprise, schooling, housing, and extra
• Grants.gov – not for people or private bills; sometimes just for organizations working with government-funded packages and tasks

Every program has its personal eligibility guidelines, software course of, and deadlines.

USA.gov says customers can report to the FTC any “free cash” scams they obtain within the type of texts, emails, advertisements or web sites.

Sources