New York officials warn of scam targeting Holocaust survivors

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a consumer alert regarding a potential scam targeting Holocaust survivors and their families. The fraudulent entity, operating under the name ‘Jewish Holocaust Claims Center’ (JHCC), has been sending unsolicited correspondence urging recipients to submit claims for compensation.

The New York State Department of Financial Services stated it could not verify the identity, services, or legitimacy of the JHCC. In response, officials have referred the matter to law enforcement, including the inspectors general of New York, New Jersey, and the U.S. Postal Service. The group’s website was reported to its hosting provider and has since been removed.

State officials emphasized that the legitimate Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO), established in 1997, provides assistance in recovering lost assets such as bank accounts, insurance proceeds, and cultural property without charging claimants for its services. Since its inception, the HCPO has helped return more than $184 million in assets and recovered over 350 cultural objects.