VIRGIN ISLANDS RESIDENTS URGED TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST COVID-19 FINANCIAL SCAMS

St. Thomas, USVI - Important Safety Alert

As the Virgin Islands prepares to receive economic impact payments from the federal government in May, officials are warning taxpayers to be aware of potential scams and take steps to protect themselves.

Be Cautious of Scams

U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, Special Agent in Charge Michael J. De Palma of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Director Joel A. Lee of the VI Bureau of Internal Revenue (the Bureau) and V.I. Attorney General Denise N. George are urging Virgin Islanders to be vigilant against scams related to COVID-19 economic impact payments.

“We want to remind everyone that fraudsters will take advantage of any opportunity, especially during a crisis,” said Shappert. “We urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to federal law enforcement.”

How Scammers May Try to Contact You

Scammers may try to contact taxpayers by phone or email claiming to represent the IRS or the Department of Finance.

• They may ask for personal details, such as bank account information.
• They may tell you to click on a link or provide sensitive information.

Protect Yourself from Scams

To protect yourself from potential scams:

• The Bureau will mail your check directly to your address on file. Don’t give out your bank account information or click on links.
• If someone calls you claiming to be from the IRS or Department of Finance, hang up the phone.
• Be cautious of texts or emails that ask for personal details or tell you to click on a link.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

If you suspect a scam, report it to:

• National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline: 866-720-5721
• Email: disaster@leo.gov

For more information on COVID-19 economic impact payments, visit the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus. For Department of Justice resources related to the COVID-19 crisis, visit the DOJ Website: http://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.