NYS warns of scam targeting Holocaust survivors, their families

The New York State Department of Financial Services has issued a warning about a new consumer scam that Gov. Kathy Hochul called "the lowest of lows" — one targeting Holocaust survivors and their families.

In a statement on Wednesday, Hochul said the scam involved "unsolicited fraudulent correspondence" by an entity calling itself the "Jewish Holocaust Claims Center" — or JHCC — and said it urged recipients to submit claims for compensation.

The Financial Services Department said it had been unable to verify "the identity, services, or legitimacy" of such an organization, and the governor's office said the department referred the matter to "appropriate law enforcement authorities," while also reporting the scam to the host provider for the scam website.

That website has since been removed, the governor's office said.

Since 1997, Holocaust victims and their heirs can contact the Holocaust Claims Processing Office for assistance in attempting to recover assets stolen or lost as a result of the Holocaust. Those include assets deposited in banks, as well as unpaid proceeds of insurance policies issued by European insurers and artwork lost, looted or sold under duress, state officials said.

Officials said the HCPO had, since its inception, received and responded to thousands of inquiries from victims and victims' families in all 50 states and 53 countries. To date, it has helped return more than $184 million in assets. It also has recovered more than 350 "cultural objects" and pieces of art, state officials said.

"Scamming and stealing from Holocaust survivors and their families is the lowest of lows," Hochul said in a statement. "This program delivers justice to Holocaust survivors who've suffered through the unspeakable and I'm committed to ensuring New York State protects survivors and their families and provides the assistance and assets these New Yorkers deserve."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.