FOR RELEASE:

CONSUMER FRAUD ALERT: Fraudulent Emails
Re: Unclaimed Funds Turning up Nationwide

Fraudulent emails claiming to be sent from the State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds are being sent to unsuspecting people nationwide, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli warned today.

The fraudulent emails, mimicking language from the State Comptroller’s website, tell email recipients they are owed a large inheritance and urge them to call a phone number with a 718 area code to claim their funds. The email claims to be sent by DiNapoli.

“My office does not initiate contact with anyone regarding unclaimed funds by email. If you receive this type of email, do not reply or call the phone number included in the email,” DiNapoli said. “Anyone receiving this kind of email should call my office immediately.

“This is a scam. Whoever is sending these emails is pretending to be from our office. We’ve referred this matter to federal law enforcement officials,” DiNapoli continued. “This is a reminder that no one should ever share personal information without verifying the legitimacy of the person asking for that information.”

Anyone who has received the fraudulent email should contact the State Comptroller’s office at 1-888-OSC-4555 (1-888-672-4555). A warning notice has also been posted on the State Comptroller’s website.

The State Comptroller’s office learned of the email scam when someone who had received the fraudulent email yesterday notified the Comptroller’s office. The email recipient lives in Kansas. Click here to view a copy of the fraudulent email.

The email includes a link to a webpage that is no longer actively used by the State Comptroller’s office. The State Comptroller’s office removed this webpage.

Individuals can find out if they are owed unclaimed funds by visiting Comptroller DiNapoli’s website at www.osc.state.ny.us or by calling the Comptroller’s toll-free number at 1-800-221-9311.

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