Phishing Scams Exploit New York’s Inflation Refund Program

Phishing scams are preying on New Yorkers by exploiting the state’s inflation refund initiative, with warnings that scammers are calling, mailing, and texting taxpayers about refunds. According to New York State Department of Taxation and Finance warning, several campaigns are using a legitimate NY initiative that automatically sends refund checks to eligible residents, even though recipients do not need to apply or provide personal information.

An SMS-based example described by BleepingComputer shows scammers urging recipients to provide payment information by a deadline, and directing them to a non‑official URL or a fake site impersonating the tax department. The message purportedly from the New York Department of Revenue claimed processing and approval of a refund and demanded payment details by September 29, 2025, with funds to be deposited or mailed within 1–2 business days.

Recipients who click the link are led to a fraudulent site collecting data such as name, address, email, phone and Social Security Number, enabling identity theft. The article urges precautions such as never clicking unsolicited refund links, avoiding sharing sensitive details, and verifying legitimacy through known official channels.