Criminals Could Be Coming for Your Child Tax Credit Payments: What You Need to Know

Here's how to avoid becoming a victim and losing out on the money you deserve.

The American Rescue Plan has done a good job of helping the economy recover from the impact of the pandemic, namely by putting $1,400 stimulus checks into Americans' bank accounts. But unfortunately, some of that money may have landed in the wrong hands.

Americans have lost a combined $488 million to criminal activity in the course of the pandemic, reports the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and around 327,000 people filed fraud complaints between January 1, 2020, and July 8, 2021. On a per-person basis, that amounts to an average loss of $366 -- a sum many people can't afford to part with at a time like this.

Meanwhile, beginning this month, the IRS will start sending out installment payments for the newly expanded Child Tax Credit. Those payments will be worth up to $300 per child and will arrive on a monthly basis between July and December.

Criminals will no doubt want to get their hands on that money. Here's how to avoid being a victim.

Know the red flags

It's common practice for criminals to use scare tactics to get consumers to divulge sensitive information that can be used to steal their money or engage in other forms of theft. As such, it's important to be mindful in the coming weeks and months as Child Tax Credit payments start to roll in.

As a general rule, the IRS will not call, text, or email you out of the blue to inform you that there's a problem with your bank account and that you'll need to take action to get the money you're entitled to -- so don't respond to any message along those lines. Chances are, it's coming from a scammer who can't wait for you to share your banking details so they can go in and access your funds.

You should also know that the IRS can't threaten to withhold your money or force you to pay a fee to access it. If you get a call stating that your money is being held up until you wire funds to a specific account, don't do it. That wire is apt to end up in a criminal's account.

Another thing you should know is that your Child Tax Credit payments will arrive in equal monthly installments over the next six months, and the remainder will come your way as a lump sum payment in 2022. There's no fee you can pay or service you can use to get your money sooner. So if someone calls offering up that option, run the other way.

Finally, the IRS will never ask you to purchase gift cards in exchange for unlocking your Child Tax Credit funds. Criminals love gift cards because they're difficult to trace, and you may get a call demanding that you send a gift card to a specific email or physical address to gain access to your payments. Do not do it.

Unfortunately, criminals will stop at nothing to scam innocent people out of their money. It happened when stimulus checks went out, and it's apt to happen again now that Child Tax Credit payments are in the works. Knowing how to spot a scam will help you avoid falling victim to one. At the same time, if you are contacted by a criminal, contact the FTC so it can investigate and perhaps spare another person from losing out financially.