The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed documents in federal court seeking a permanent injunction against Traffic Jam Events, LLC and its owner, David J. Jeansonne II to stop an incredibly deceptive scam by which the defendants used false promises regarding the CARES Act stimulus payments to lure unsuspecting people to a used car lot. The scam starts with a letter in an envelope copied below which appears to come from the federal government and falsely indicates that it relates to the CARES Act stimulus payments. Inside the envelope is a letter that falsely further indicates that the letter is from the federal government and is a part of the CARES Act. Inside is what appears to be a check, copied below, which the receiver of the letter is told he or she must claim in person at a designated temporary site to which they are directed. If they go to the designated site, they find that it is a used car sale and not a part of the CARES Act.
TIPS
One of the first indications that this is a scam is that if you are receiving your CARES Act payment by mail, it will not come in an envelope indicating in large letters that it pertains to the CARES Act. Additionally, the phony check does not come in a figure that relates to the payments being made under the CARES Act. Also, the check indicates that it is part of the Stimulus Relief Program. The truth is that the official name for the program as used by the federal government is Economic Impact Payments. Finally, all real CARES Act payments are made either by direct deposit into your bank account, a debit card sent to you in the mail or a check sent to you in the mail. There are no temporary sites to pick up or claim your payments.
For those of you receiving the Scam of the day through an email, I just want to remind you that if you want to see the ever increasing list of Coronavirus scams go to the first page of the http://www.scamicide.com website and click on the tab at the top of the page that indicates “Coronavirus Scams.”
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