12-02-2022 10:11am

"Middle-Class Tax Refund"

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

Residents are questioning what happened to Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to mail a check to automobile owners to compensate for increased gas prices. State legislators selected instead to send tax refunds to low- and middle-income taxpayers, to aid in reducing the discomfort of inflation. Now, millions of people in Los Angeles and the state of California are obtaining those payments in the mail, which are loaded onto debit cards.

With the rise in scam activity, citizens are asking how can be sure the debit cards are legitimate, This one-time payment ranges from $200 to $350 per person for those earning up to $250,000, and the small fee to activate the debit cards.

Debit cards are Legit if?

"The envelope looks like the one shown in our video, with a return address in Omaha, Nebraska. Most importantly, the real card must be activated by calling only this number: 1-800-240-0223. Do not call any other number claiming to activate the card. When you call, you'll be prompted to punch in the last six digits of your Social Security Number. Once you activate, though, watch out for fees. It costs $1.25 each time you withdraw money at a non-network ATM, like those at major banks. It's also $1.25 to get over-the-counter cash at a bank. However, it's free to get cash at Money Network ATMs, located mainly inside grocery and drug stores. It's also free to use them for shopping".

The state of California is paying Money Network of Georgia $25 million to provide debit cards to about 11 million Californians. The New York bank is a partner. Check to see if you qualify for the California Middle-Class Tax Refund here.

Written by Anita Johnson-Brown