Federal stimulus checks in the amount of $250 are on the way to senior citizens and others who receive Social Security and other federal benefits, but to no one's surprise, the scam artists are slithering out from under their rocks with schemes to grab the cash -- and worse.

The one-time payments, authorized by Congress, will be delivered the same way those who receive benefits normally get their checks -- by regular mail or Direct Deposit.

Con artists have devised a number of ways to extract the money from seniors -- some with even more ominous motives than just stealing the money.

They're sending mail stating that bank account information is needed in order for the person to receive their check.  NOT TRUE!

They're working the phones telling seniors they need to give out sensitive information like bank account numbers and Social Security numbers in order to get their payments. NOT TRUE!

They're sending e-mails with links for people to find out if they qualify. NOT NECESSARY!

The facts are that people who are eligible for the payments, do not have to do anything to receive them. No one should be contacting them about the payments.

UCAN advises everyone -- NEVER give out sensitive personal or financial information unless first checking on the source that is asking for it.

If you think you are eligible for this one-time payment, and haven't received it by June 4, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

If you get something suspicious in the mail, online or receive a suspect phone call, get in touch with Social Security's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or go online to www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/hotline/. 

These payments were designed to give seniors -- not crooks -- a boost during these tough economic times.