Now that $600 coronavirus relief stimulus checks and account transfers are arriving to American taxpayers, scammers are already trying to steal those stimulus checks and your personal information, the Better Business Bureau reports

The BBB warns about emails and text messages that say you must click on a web link to "confirm" or "request" payment of benefits The link takes the user to a page requesting personal information such as date of birth or social security number

They may also receive phone calls asking them to provide personal information in order to receive a stimulus check As with any web-based scam, providing personal information puts you at serious risk of identity theft

"Other times, scammers claim they can receive additional money or funds immediately," says the BBB All they need to do is pay a small "processing fee" through a prepaid debit card

The BBB says that in order not to be fooled by these scammers, you need to:

One more thing to remember: federal agencies rarely use email, text, or phone to inform you of bureaucratic issues The federal government is old-fashioned and prefers to send letters through the mail

Our friends at Cnet recommend looking at the IRS's own list of ways to avoid falling for stimulus check scams In addition to the above tips, the IRS says:

"The IRS will not ask you to call to verify or provide your financial information in order to receive your stimulus payment or refund faster," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in an IRS advisory IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig stated in an IRS advisory IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig stated in the IRS advisory, "We will not Do not open the email or click on any attachments or links Please visit IRSgov for the latest information