NEWARK - Con artists attempting to steal personal information are contacting New Jersey residents and falsely stating that bank account and/or social security numbers must be provided to them in order for economic stimulus checks to be sent to consumers.

Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo warned residents to be aware of this scam and to not provide any personal information to callers who claim to be U.S. Treasury or I.R.S. officials or to respond to such emails.

“These con artists attempt to scare consumers into divulging personal information in order to allegedly facilitate direct deposit of economic stimulus checks into the consumers' bank accounts,” DeMarzo said. “The federal government already has the needed information from the tax forms filed by consumers.”

DeMarzo said New Jersey consumers have reported receiving both telephone calls and emails from con artists attempting to perpetrate this scam.

“Never provide personal information to unknown callers and unsolicited emails,” he cautioned. “Identity thieves will use bank account numbers to attempt to empty accounts and also to apply for credit cards in the consumer's name.”

Consumers can report this and other scam attempts to the Division of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 (toll-free in New Jersey) or 973-504-6200. The Division also can be contacted via its web site, http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov

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