BUFFALO, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul is warning New Yorkers to be on alert for scammers spreading false information about the state’s inflation refund checks through text messages, phone calls, emails and direct mail.

The messages falsely claim that recipients must provide payment information to receive their checks so that revenue agencies can deposit funds directly into their bank accounts. Officials say neither the New York State Tax Department nor the IRS will ever call or text taxpayers to request personal information.

"New Yorkers do not have to do anything to receive an inflation refund check outside of meeting the eligibility requirements," Hochul said Sunday in a statement.

"With scams targeting the state’s inflation refund initiative, let me be clear: The Tax Department and the

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