Stimulus check scam reported

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS May 15, 2008 11:45 am

— Unfortunately, it was bound to happen.
Cherokee County authorities are investigating an alleged scam involving economic stimulus checks the federal government is sending taxpayers. The sheriff’s office has been informed a male caller has phoned some local residents, asking for bank information. Some of the intended victims are senior citizens, but the caller is not discriminating and has been calling taxpayers of all ages. One would-be victim reported the suspect had a foreign-sounding accent.
Law enforcement personnel warned Wednesday against giving bank information to anyone. They said the Internal Revenue Service already has all the information necessary to send taxpayers the stimulus checks, which started arriving in mailboxes this month.
Anyone receiving one of the calls should not give out any banking information but should report the incident to the nearest law enforcement agency.