Tariff rebate checks: How to separate facts from scams

President Donald Trump continues to float the prospect of $2,000 tariff rebate checks in 2026. During a Dec. 2 cabinet meeting, he doubled down on the idea of "refunds out of the tariffs."

"We're going to be giving a nice dividend to the people, in addition to reducing debt," Trump said.

While many would welcome the assistance, no formal plan has been put in place. On a Dec. 21 episode of CBS News's Face the Nation, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said he expects the wheels to be put in motion next year.

"I would expect that in the new year, the president will bring forth a proposal to Congress to make that happen," Hassett told host Margaret Brennan.

The ongoing discussion has fueled fraudsters hoping to prey on cash-strapped consumers. Kristin Lewis, chief product officer for online safety platform Aura, says the company is seeing an uptick in tariff-related scams in text messages, emails and phone calls.

"It's this exact type of media moment that scammers love to take advantage of," Lewis told CNBC Select. "It's a topic that's in the news that people don't really understand, so they can use it to create some sense of urgency."

That's what happened in February, when Trump and Elon Musk raised the idea of $5,000 dividend checks from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): Fraudsters sent text messages asking for personal information and promising a direct deposit or check from DOGE within a day or two.

The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker is warning of a current phone scam promising a $5,286 relief check. "[It's] already been issued in your name but has not yet been collected," a voicemail message announces, before sharing a URL for victims to visit.

But the most dangerous scams, says Lewis, haven't garnered enough attention for watchdogs to notice.

"Scams can happen so much quicker now," she added. "A lot of times, they begin impacting people before we can start warning them about it on major news outlets."  

Whether there's any real movement on tariff dividend payments, keep these tips in mind.

• If it's urgent, it's probably fake. Scam artists use "act now" and "expiring soon" language to get consumers to hand over information. "Take a beat to verify whatever it is," Lewis said. 
  
• Don't click on anything. "A legitimate agency is not going to text you unexpectedly and ask you to complete a payment on your mobile phone," Lewis said. If you're unsure about the legitimacy of an offer, don't click the link — go to the source.
  
• The government won't text you. Mary Ann Miller, fraud and cybercrime advisor at ID verification platform Prove, says the Treasury Department and other agencies don't call, text or DM people.  "If someone contacts you first claiming you are owed a 'tariff rebate', it's almost certainly a scam," Miller told CNBC Select. The IRS, for example, typically reaches out via the U.S. Postal Service. If the agency does call you, it will direct you to IRS.gov to resolve the issue.
  
  According to the IRS website, "the messages don't share specific details." 
  
  Any request for bank account information, IRS login credentials or Social Security number is also a huge red flag, Miller said.  "Real rebates are automatically sent through official channels you already use."  

Whether it's an offer for a dividend check or a threat that you owe tolls, there are several key strategies to fend off scammers.

Don't believe the hype. A skeptical attitude is the best way to avoid falling prey to cybercriminals. If you're not sure whether an email or text is legitimate, get in touch with the supposed sender via their official communication channels.

Monitor your credit. Many people only discover they've been scammed when they see their bank account has been emptied or they've been rejected for a loan. Act proactively by reviewing your credit reports regularly with a credit monitoring service like IdentityForce® UltraSecure, which includes three-bureau credit monitoring, tracks your info on the dark web and offers up to $2 million in insurance to restore your identity if you've been targeted.

Freeze your credit. You don't have to wait for disaster to strike. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit reports, with no effect on your credit score or active accounts. You'll need to reach out to all three credit bureaus and give them your name, Social Security number, birth date and other personal information. If you want to apply for a financial product, you can easily unfreeze your credit for a set time or indefinitely. (Online or telephone requests must be fulfilled within one hour.)

At CNBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority, grounded in relevant training and experience. For this story, we interviewed Kristin Lewis, chief product officer at Aura, where she leads the company's efforts to build innovative tools that keep children and families safe online. Prior to joining Aura, Kristin held leadership roles at Engage and Equifax. She holds a bachelor's in political science from Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

We also spoke with Mary Ann Miller, fraud and cybercrime advisor at ID verification platform Prove. Previously, Mary Ann oversaw the fraud strategy process at Varo Bank and held positions at USAA, PayPal and Lloyd's Bank. She is currently a member of the Federal Reserve's Scams Definition and Classification Work Group.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to deliver high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make informed financial decisions. Every cybersecurity article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content independently of our commercial team and any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on maintaining high journalistic standards and ethics.

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