As New York State rolls out its inflation refund initiative, Governor Kathy Hochul is hitting the alarm on scam artists preying on taxpayers. The state's inflation refund checks, part of a relief effort to counteract the squeeze of high prices, have become the latest hook for scammers fishing for personal information.
In a statement obtained by the Office of the Governor, Hochul emphasized that recipients of the checks won’t need to do anything except meet the eligibility requirements to receive their money. However, scammers are bombarding New Yorkers with texts, emails, and phone calls, falsely claiming to be officials and asking for bank details. "The Tax Department and the IRS do not call or text individuals for personal information," Hochul highlighted.
Over 8.2 million eligible households will receive these refunds automatically, so long as they have filed a tax return and fall below the stipulated income thresholds. The Governor's office confirmed that the State has already started dispensing these checks, aiming to cover all ground between October and November. Full details on eligibility can be found at the New York State Tax Department's official webpage.
For those who suspect fraudulent activity or have already been affected, New York's Division of Consumer Protection’s Taxpayer Scam webpage provides information on identity theft and related schemes. The site, along with the Consumer Helpline, offers resources to help prevent and respond to these scams.
