Now that most of us have stimulus money to spend, thieves are taking advantage of it. Sadly, this story is all too common, but the best way to combat thievery attempts is to stay informed and protect yourself.

Of course, stimulus scams are already making rounds through the nation, but this new one is hitting a bit closer to home.

On Monday the Belvidere Police Department issued a very important warning for residents regarding reports of credit card skimmers popping up in the Stateline area.

The warning appears to be referring to outdoor credit card machines like gas pumps and ATM's but either way, we need to keep a close eye out...

 

Above I mentioned stimulus check scams that are currently circulating the nation, so I thought I'd share some tips to prevent falling victim to these scams. Here's a few important thing to remember that I found on cnet.com;

  • Do not respond to texts saying you are receiving a second check.
  • Do not provide any financial information by phone, email or text to speed up your payment. 
  • If the person contacting you uses any other term than "economic impact payment", it's a scam.
  • If you get a check in the mail for an odd amount, including dollars and cents, don't cash it. 

Stay safe and aware, and if you encounter any of the above mentioned situations, please report it to local authorities immediately!

Catch Lil Zim on ‘Q98.5 Mornings with Lil Zim & JB’ on Q98.5 from 6:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow her on TwitterInstagram, and  Facebook

 

READ MORE: See 50 remote jobs that can pay well

More From 96.7 The Eagle