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New Yorkers are being alerted to scams related to the state's inflation refund checks. These scams involve fraudulent text messages, emails, and direct mail claiming that recipients must provide personal payment information to receive their checks. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized that no action is required from eligible New Yorkers beyond meeting the eligibility criteria to receive their checks.
According to Governor Hochul, the New York State Tax Department and the IRS will not contact individuals requesting personal information. The governor's office urges anyone receiving suspicious messages to block the sender, delete the message, and report it to the Tax Department or IRS.
As reported by WSYR-TV, more than 8.2 million households in New York State are set to receive these checks, which are being distributed through October and November. The initiative aims to offset rising costs due to inflation.
Governor Hochul announced the initiative on September 26, and warned that scammers are exploiting the program to deceive residents. To qualify for a check, individuals must have filed a tax return for 2023, have income below specified thresholds, and not be claimed as a dependent.