True or Scam?....Updated Info

[Bill V]

Rose, even if it's true that you can get a rebate, I would be sure to get the phone number directly from the state (be it from their website, or otherwise). Do NOT simply calling some number that either comes to you as unsolicited e-mail or even passed to you via word of mouth, and giving them your social security number. It would be VERY easy to set up a scam on this--just e-mail residents, tell them that they need to call "the number" to get the rebate, and provide them a fake phone number.

 

[Rose Medlin]

Bill V, that is why I went directly to the Govenor's web page and the state web page. Both numbers that I called were off these sites. I had my niece give me the number she called and it was the one that was on the website. I also verified about giving them the SS# over the phone, which they confirmed that you dio have to provide it if you are wanting to know how much you will be receiving and you cannot call for someone else.

 

[Richard L]

Rose,

Your first post indicated that one had to call and give their SSN to be eligible to receive the rebate. That's very different than giving their SSN just to find out how much of a rebate they would receive.



I'm glad that it is not a scam, but I would still be careful. If 2004 taxpayers are going to get a rebate, I don't know that I would feel comfortable giving my SSN to someone over the phone just to know how much of a rebate I was getting in advance. Atfter all, nobody is going to retire to Hawaii just because they got a gas rebate. I'm willing to bet that the average rebate is less than $50. And the web site only speaks in terms of the Governors "Proposal" for a gas rebate, and not that it actually has been approved? That is an open invitation to scammers to make up an Identity Theft scam based on the information the State is putting out without any real clarity.



I'm sure the rebate is based on some line on each taxpayer's State Income Tax form for 2004 and the State only needed to publish the formula for calculating the rebate, or some specific amount for paying X amount of State Tax, etc., for people to estimate what their rebate would be.



...Rich

 

[Rose Medlin]

Richard L...she was very vague on the information she gave me. After I drilled her and made a couple of calls myself, I felt better about the situation. The second link gives the range, average and an example of what to expect as far as a rebate.

 

[Lauren Y]

Can I have her SSN? I want to get a few more credit cards...





HI ROSE!