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Governor Hochul Alerts Public to Inflation Refund Scams

10/1/2025

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Governor Kathy Hochul warns of scams targeting inflation refund checks sent to over 8.2 million households.
Scammers use texts, emails, and calls to demand personal information.
The New York State Tax Department and Internal Revenue Service will not solicit personal data by calls or texts.
Refund checks range from $200 to $400; mailing began last week and continues through Oct–Nov.

History

Historical Context

In response to the 2008 financial crisis, the U.S. government distributed over 130 million economic stimulus checks, totaling approximately $168 billion, to support struggling households. Today, New York is sending inflation refund checks to over 8.2 million households, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in personal data security and prompting warnings about scams targeting recipients, necessitating increased public awareness.

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Story summary

Governor Kathy Hochul warns of scams targeting inflation refund checks sent to over 8.2 million households.
Scammers use texts, emails, and calls to demand personal information.
The New York State Tax Department and Internal Revenue Service will not solicit personal data by calls or texts.
Refund checks range from $200 to $400; mailing began last week and continues through Oct–Nov.

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