FBI Warns Of Stimulus Check Scam

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- Chula Vista resident Roni Bondurant is like many Americans. She can't wait to receive her economic stimulus check from the federal government.

"Since I'm waiting for my stimulus like everybody else on Friday, it caught my eye because I went, 'Maybe there's something going on,'" said Bondurant.

What caught her eye was an e-mail from the Internal Revenue Service. It said the fasted way to receive her money was to "click here" to fill out a form.

"It also asked me for PIN, my mother's maiden name, my Social Security number and the three-digit code off the back of the card -- all red flags," said Bondurant.

"This is just another scheme where people are trying to obtain your personal information," said Special Agent Darrell Foxworth of the FBI.

Around the same time, the FBI got wind of the scam and sent out a warning that the e-mail is from someone trying to steal personal information.

Foxworth said, "Instead of opening it, if you don't know who it's from, delete it."

For Bondurant, she knew something was up from the get-go. Unfortunately, she's been scammed before -- in a Wal-Mart money order scheme that cost her more than money.

"I was actually arrested, put in jail and I'm still going through the court system to get rid of that one," said Bondurant.

It is a hard lesson she does not want to learn again.

"At this point, I wouldn't give any personal information over the Internet," said Bondurant.

To learn more about how to avoid this scam, visit the FBI's Web site.