Misinformation regarding a purported “fourth stimulus check” for older Americans or individuals with disabilities is rampant across various online platforms. The truth is there are no plans for a fourth stimulus payment, as affirmed by IRS spokesperson Anthony Burke.
Burke reiterated that all Economic Impact Payments, the official term for the stimulus checks distributed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been disbursed to over 160 million taxpayers as part of relief measures passed by Congress in 2020 and 2021.
Despite this clarity, claims of imminent stimulus checks persist, fueled in part by the proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in generating content, according to McKenzie Sadeghi, an editor specializing in AI and foreign influence at NewsGuard.
Sadeghi warns that such claims often originate from unreliable sources dubbed “content farms,” which churn out dubious articles, many of which are AI-generated and lack human oversight. These articles aim to attract traffic and engagement, often through sensationalized headlines.
Social media platforms have also become breeding grounds for such misinformation, with viral posts spreading false promises of new stimulus payments. Additionally, YouTube channels with substantial followings contribute to the dissemination of these baseless claims.
While legitimate relief payments were distributed in recent years, they were accompanied by various scams targeting unsuspecting individuals. Now, the focus seems to be on driving traffic to websites rather than perpetrating scams directly.
Sadeghi underscores the importance of vigilance when consuming online content, advising readers to look out for inconsistencies, repetition of phrases like “stimulus checks,” lack of attribution, and absence of transparency regarding the source’s identity.
For those who may have missed out on previous stimulus payments, the IRS offers recourse through the Recovery Rebate Credit. By filing or amending tax…
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