“Inflation Refund” Scam: How Fraudsters Are Stealing Identities Through Texts

Daily Security Review

A widespread smishing campaign is sweeping across New York, luring residents with fraudulent text messages about an “Inflation Refund” from the Department of Taxation and Finance. These deceptive messages claim that recipients are eligible for a refund and must click a link to “process” it — a ploy designed to harvest personal and financial information. Once clicked, the link leads victims to a phishing page that mimics an official New York government site, requesting details such as names, addresses, Social Security Numbers, and banking information.

The scam’s success hinges on confusion surrounding the legitimate New York Inflation Refund program, which automatically sends checks to eligible taxpayers — no applications, links, or personal data submissions required. Governor Kathy Hochul’s office and the Department of Taxation and Finance have issued urgent warnings, emphasizing that New York State will never contact residents by text, phone, or email regarding these payments.

Experts warn that falling for this scam can lead to identity theft, fraudulent tax filings, and long-term financial harm. The fraudulent texts even include fabricated deadlines and legal citations to create a false sense of urgency, exploiting trust in official-sounding communication.

In this episode, we unpack how this smishing campaign operates, why it’s so effective, and how New Yorkers can recognize and report these scams before they cause irreparable damage.

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