Democratic senators urge IRS to strengthen fraud protections | TheHill – The Hill

Three Democratic senators on Friday urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to strengthen its fraud protections amid reports of scammers targeting coronavirus relief checks.

"These scams often involve criminals impersonating the IRS or suggesting that they can help get individuals their stimulus payments faster," Finance Committee members Sens.Maggie HassanMargaret (Maggie) HassanDemocrats urge Treasury to ensure Social Security recipients quickly receive full coronavirus rebates Tensions flare as Democrats press Pence over coronavirus testing The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump turns to lawmakers to advise on reopening MORE (D-N.H.), Tom CarperThomas (Tom) Richard CarperEPA is abandoning those suffering from toxic PFAS pollution Infrastructure investments have never been so good Bipartisan senators announce .5B water infrastructure proposal MORE (D-Del.) and Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenFree-flowing rivers help ecosystems, wildlife, people and the economy Key Democrat presses Mnuchin about Trump's name on coronavirus checks Bipartisan Senate report reaffirms intelligence findings that Russia meddled in 2016 elections MORE (D-Ore.) wrote to agency Commissioner Charles Rettig.

"Criminals ask for personal information in order to steal personal identities and stimulus payments," the senators explained.

Under the $2 trillion coronavirus relief packagePresident TrumpDonald John TrumpNew Mexico governor extends stay-at-home order: 'We're not ready to ease up' Coronavirus culture war over reopening economy hits Capitol Hill Challenge China and the WHObut not while the pandemic rages MOREsigned late last month, known as the CARES Act, mosthouseholds will receive direct payments of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child.

Scammers have taken advantage of the payments, redirecting the needed stimulus to themselves, according to multiple reports.

In Friday's letter, the Democratic lawmakers urged the IRS to boost fraud protections for online tools related to the checks.

They also called on the agency to work with the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission to educate Americans on how to spot and avoid scams.

The IRS's watchdog warned earlier this month that people should be vigilant about scams relating to the checks because criminals have long devised schemes targeting government aid programs.

The agency itself has also issuedwarnings about coronavirus-related scams, saying that retirees in particular may be targeted.

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Democratic senators urge IRS to strengthen fraud protections | TheHill - The Hill