Financial Crime World

VIRGIN ISLANDS RESIDENTS WARNED ABOUT COVID-19 RELATING FINANCIAL SCAMS

St. Thomas, USVI - A Joint Warning from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands, IRS-CI, VI Bureau of Internal Revenue, and V.I. Attorney General

COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments: Be Aware of Potential Scams

As COVID-19 economic impact payments are set to be mailed to eligible Virgin Islands residents in May, taxpayers are at risk of being targeted by scammers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands, IRS-CI, VI Bureau of Internal Revenue (the Bureau), and V.I. Attorney General urge all Americans to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to federal law enforcement.

What You Need to Know

  • COVID-19 economic impact payments will be mailed directly to Virgin Islands taxpayers from the Department of Finance.
  • Eligible residents should file and pay taxes to avoid any issues with receiving their economic impact payment.
  • The Bureau will mail checks to the last known address on file with the Bureau.

Scam Alert

Scammers may claim to be from the Bureau or the IRS, asking taxpayers to verify their payment details or provide personal information. Do not give out personal or financial information, even if someone claims it’s necessary. If you receive a call relating to your tax return, hang up the phone and do not engage with scammers or thieves.

Red Flags

  • Bogus checks: Be cautious of “checks” for odd amounts (especially ones with cents) or those that require verification online or by calling a number.
  • Unsolicited requests: Be wary of requests to verify payment details or provide personal information.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

To report any suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov.

Stay Informed and Stay Safe

In these trying times, it’s essential to remain vigilant and take extra precautions to avoid being victimized. Our community comes together to address current challenges with purpose, and our citizens should not allow criminals to exploit emotions during this crisis.

U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert

“We urge all Americans to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to federal law enforcement. Fraudsters who prey on vulnerable victims will be held accountable for their criminal conduct.”

Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Miami Field Office

“Even as our Nation is enduring a State of Emergency, criminals will continue to engage in heinous acts to further enrich themselves. IRS Criminal Investigation will work diligently alongside the Department of Justice and law enforcement counterparts to identify scams, stop con-artists in their tracks, and bring them to justice.”

Joel A. Lee, Director of the Bureau

“Virgin Islands residents who fraudulently filed IRS returns or otherwise received an EIP from IRS must repay the IRS or be subject to possible criminal prosecution.”