Scam artists already using the stimulus plan as bait

Some people just can't help themselves when they see an opportunity to make money off those who can least afford it. When times are tough, people tend to be a bit more vulnerable when someone is dangling the idea of free money in front of them.

Scammers being who they are - those with a business plan built around conning others out of their money - are now seeing the federal economic stimulus plan as a hook to rip you off. It is an ideal setup: everyone knows the government is putting gobs of money out there, but most people aren't too sure about where it's coming from and how to get it.

So, the scams involve trying to convince people they are receiving actual mail or e-mail from the federal government.

The Small Business Administration reported last week that letters are being sent out on stationery purporting to be from the SBA telling small-business owners they might be eligible for tax rebates under the stimulus plan. The letter asks the business owner to send in bank account information.

Similarly, the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team warns of a fraudulent e-mail that appears to be coming from the Internal Revenue Service. It also asks recipients to fill out a form with their personal information.

These are both so-called phishing scams, aimed at collecting information that would allow the perpetrators access to your money and credit.

If you get a realistic looking letter or e-mail asking for your personal information, do not click the links or use the phone numbers or Web addresses they provide. Scammers can set up very elaborate ruses that include verifying the legitimacy of the con by answering the provided phone number or creating believable websites.

If you believe you received a phony IRS e-mail looking for your personal information, e-mail phishing@irs.gov. If you received a suspicious SBA letter regarding the stimulus, e-mail OIGHotline@sba.gov.

If that isn't enough, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin's office is warning businesses of an outfit calling itself "Compliance Services" that is soliciting people to pay them to file supposedly required corporate meeting minutes. Galvin's office notes there is no such requirement to file minutes and that Compliance Service's solicitation is confusing a lot of people. Those who have received the solicitation are asked to e-mail laurie.flynn@sec.state.ma.us.

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