Make sure your rebate check goes to the right place

Check your Social Security number and bank balance; if you're one of the fortunate ones whose Social Security cards end in 00-09, and you've opted for direct deposit, you should start looking for your economic stimulus payment this week.

Numbers ending in 21-75 should get their direct deposits May 9, and 76-99 on May 16.

If you opted to get paper checks in the mail, they'll start arriving May 16 for the lowest number, and if you've got a high number, say 88-99, don't expect to see your money until after the Fourth of July.

What you do with it, of course, is up to you. With gasoline flirting with the $4 mark, a lot of people don't plan to do anything more economically stimulating than paying for fuel and other bills, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll. Another 32 percent will put the money into savings and 3 percent say they'll donate it to charity.

Only 21 percent will do what the government intended when it passed the economic stimulus package, and spend the money on a new purchase.

We hate to throw a damper on the government's plans, but in this case, we think the majority of Americans are making the right choice.

One choice that is definitely wrong is letting a scam artist take advantage of the extra money in your pocket.

The IRS has received a number of reports of scam artists using its name in calls and e-mails intended to separate taxpayers from their cash.

If you receive any of the following, hang up, delete, and definitely do not provide any Social Security, banking or other personal information:

* A caller says who have a sizeable rebate coming for filing early, then asks for bank account information.

* An e-mail with a link asking for banking or credit card information. Sometimes, it includes two paragraphs that appear to be directed toward tax-exempt organizations.

* An e-mail informing you that your tax return will be audited or that there have been changes in the tax law that affect your return.

* A call claiming to be an IRS employee saying the recipient had not cashed a refund check, and asking to verify the recipient's bank routing and account numbers.

For truthful information, visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov. There's a "Where's My Refund" link that can provide specific information about your specific return.