Possible coronavirus stimulus fraud?
April 20, 2020 11:16 AM Subscribe
Should we be concerned that a stranger's stimulus check came to our home address when we've lived here for seven years?
My husband and I just got a piece of mail that looks like a check for the new coronavirus stimulus payment. Strangely, it's addressed to a name we've never heard before, and it clearly has our address on it. Of course, we're going to write "not at this address" on the envelope and mail it back, but getting this made us wonder: why the hell does the IRS think this person lives at our address? We've lived here for seven years, and we know the names of the people who lived here before us, so it can't be an outdated address from an older tax return.
Her name is unusual enough that my husband was able to find this person's internet presence, and it looks like she lives in our city.
Our question: is there any cause for concern here? Is there any way this could be a problem for us, or be a sign of a future issue, scam, or fraud? We do rent in an extremely desirable school district, probably the best in our city (to the point that, when we eventually buy a house, we'll be way priced out of our current neighborhood, due to the schools driving housing prices up), and so we were thinking maybe this is somehow connected to a school fraud situation, in which case, it's probably none of our business. We just wanted to make sure we have our bases covered. Is there anything we should be looking out for here?
My husband and I just got a piece of mail that looks like a check for the new coronavirus stimulus payment. Strangely, it's addressed to a name we've never heard before, and it clearly has our address on it. Of course, we're going to write "not at this address" on the envelope and mail it back, but getting this made us wonder: why the hell does the IRS think this person lives at our address? We've lived here for seven years, and we know the names of the people who lived here before us, so it can't be an outdated address from an older tax return.
Her name is unusual enough that my husband was able to find this person's internet presence, and it looks like she lives in our city.
Our question: is there any cause for concern here? Is there any way this could be a problem for us, or be a sign of a future issue, scam, or fraud? We do rent in an extremely desirable school district, probably the best in our city (to the point that, when we eventually buy a house, we'll be way priced out of our current neighborhood, due to the schools driving housing prices up), and so we were thinking maybe this is somehow connected to a school fraud situation, in which case, it's probably none of our business. We just wanted to make sure we have our bases covered. Is there anything we should be looking out for here?
The 24th was the estimate, but the IRS has confirmed that checks are already going out and some people have already received them. Doesn't explain why it would have come to you, but it could be a real, misaddressed for some reason check.
posted by brainmouse at 12:11 PM on April 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by brainmouse at 12:11 PM on April 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Sure, take a photo and follow up, but do not follow the advice of holding a piece of mail indefinitely. If it’s legitimate, that’s cruel. Just return to the IRS noting no one by that name lives at your address, as you plan to do.
posted by studioaudience at 12:15 PM on April 20, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by studioaudience at 12:15 PM on April 20, 2020 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Just write "Return to Sender; not at this address" on the envelope and put into the corner mailbox or leave it next to your mailbox for collection.
posted by calgirl at 12:43 PM on April 20, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by calgirl at 12:43 PM on April 20, 2020 [5 favorites]
Best answer: Assuming the check is real, as far as I understand the directions on the IRS website people with no direct deposit info on file will have checks sent to them at the address on their most recent return. Maybe she hasn't filed in a really long time? It could also just be a glitch or error. Ideally I'd call the IRS but I'm sure they're impossible to get ahold of at the moment. Return-to-sender might be the best way to go at this point.
posted by peakes at 12:48 PM on April 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by peakes at 12:48 PM on April 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Return to sender. It will no longer be your problem.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:18 PM on April 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:18 PM on April 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Is it possible that there’s a typo? Maybe they live on your street, but in the 1500 block instead of the 2500 block? Or is your city like New York, where there are both numbered streets and avenues? Do you live in a suburb near the border of another suburb? I can think of a number of possibilities, but who knows how plausible they are?
posted by kevinbelt at 1:40 PM on April 20, 2020
posted by kevinbelt at 1:40 PM on April 20, 2020
Do as you suggest, Elvis it, return to sender. I would not spend another minute on it, but if it is some sort of school fraud, it is more than no big deal,but that is a different discussion.
As for calling the IRS, I have had good success in the last two weeks.
posted by AugustWest at 3:28 PM on April 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
As for calling the IRS, I have had good success in the last two weeks.
posted by AugustWest at 3:28 PM on April 20, 2020 [2 favorites]
This is not a scam most likely just a mixup in the IRS system. Sometimes address numbers or letters can be transposed (human error) and that would explain the mixup. If the person whom the letter was addressed to lives nearby you might just return the letter/check and let the intended party search for it. Theres no reason to jump to conclusions just because of a mixup.
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:03 AM on April 21, 2020
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:03 AM on April 21, 2020
Response by poster: Looking a bit closer at the outside of the envelope, it looks it's in fact a notice from the IRS that the intended recipient needs to update her address, so that makes sense! I suspect she just hasn't filed her taxes in a very long time.
Thanks everyone! We are going to mark it "return to sender, not at this address" and not worry about it any longer.
posted by WhollyMatrimony at 1:29 PM on April 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
Thanks everyone! We are going to mark it "return to sender, not at this address" and not worry about it any longer.
posted by WhollyMatrimony at 1:29 PM on April 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Honestly, I'd hold onto it until this is all over and then give it to your Postmaster General.
posted by juniperesque at 11:50 AM on April 20, 2020 [3 favorites]