New York Warns Holocaust Survivors of Dangerous Restitution Scam
State officials urge survivors and their families to verify unexpected compensation offers before sharing personal or financial information.
New York officials are warning Holocaust survivors and their families about a restitution scam involving unsolicited messages that claim recipients may qualify for compensation. The state Department of Financial Services says people should not respond, provide personal information or submit financial details until they independently confirm that the organization contacting them is legitimate.
The warning comes after correspondence was sent by an entity calling itself the “Jewish Holocaust Claims Center,” or “JHCC.” According to the Department of Financial Services, or DFS, the messages urged recipients to contact the organization to submit claims for compensation.
DFS said it could not verify the identity, services or legitimacy of the organization. State officials referred the matter to law enforcement and reported the website associated with the entity to its hosting provider. The website was later removed, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
The state is now urging families to treat unexpected restitution offers with caution.
What Holocaust Survivors and Families Should Know
The most important advice from DFS is simple:
Do not respond to unsolicited Holocaust compensation or restitution communications until you independently verify who sent them.
DFS specifically advises Holocaust survivors and their relatives to use caution when contacted about possible eligibility for compensation.
Before sharing information, families should:
- Verify the organization independently. Do not rely only on a phone number, email address or website contained in an unexpected message.
- Do not immediately provide financial information. Bank account details, Social Security numbers and other sensitive information should not be given to an unverified organization.
- Be cautious about requests involving Holocaust restitution. Legitimate-looking names or official language do not prove that an organization is connected with the government.
- Contact New York’s Holocaust Claims Processing Office directly if there is any question about whether a communication is legitimate.
The official New York State Holocaust Claims Processing Office can be reached at 800-695-3318 or claimsques@dfs.ny.gov.
State Says “JHCC” Could Not Be Verified
DFS said it became aware of correspondence from the organization describing itself as the Jewish Holocaust Claims Center.
The agency’s consumer alert does not verify the organization as a legitimate claims service. Instead, DFS states that it “cannot verify the identity, services, or legitimacy” of the entity.
That distinction matters.
Fraud attempts often work by creating urgency or appearing to offer money that a victim may rightfully be owed. In this case, the subject is especially sensitive because Holocaust restitution can involve decades-old family claims, lost property, insurance policies, bank accounts and artwork.
Gov. Hochul condemned efforts to exploit survivors and their relatives.
“Scamming and stealing from Holocaust survivors and their families is the lowest of lows,” Hochul said.
She said New York would continue working to protect survivors and help families obtain assets to which they are legally entitled.
New York Has a Free Holocaust Claims Office
Families should also know that New York already operates an official government office designed specifically to assist Holocaust victims and their heirs.
The Holocaust Claims Processing Office, or HCPO, was established in 1997 and is part of the New York State Department of Financial Services.
It assists people seeking recovery of:
- Assets deposited in banks
- Unpaid proceeds from insurance policies issued by European insurers
- Artwork that was lost, looted or sold under duress during the Nazi era
Most importantly, the HCPO does not charge claimants for its services.
That is an important fact for families evaluating claims assistance. A person who receives an unexpected solicitation asking for payment or sensitive financial information should first check with the official state office.
DFS Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow said the state wants survivors to be able to pursue restitution without fear of exploitation.
She said DFS would continue working with government and community organizations to protect survivors and help families recover assets that were wrongfully taken.
Holocaust Claims Have Recovered Millions for Families
The state’s Holocaust Claims Processing Office has operated for nearly three decades.
According to Hochul’s Aug. 19 announcement, the office has received claims from all 50 states and 53 countries and has helped return more than $184 million in assets to victims’ families. The state also reported the recovery of 356 cultural objects.
Earlier official reports show how that work has grown over time. In January 2024, DFS reported more than $183 million in compensation had been secured or returned through the office and more than 250 cultural objects had been involved in settlements since the program began.
Those claims can represent much more than money.
Artwork, insurance benefits, bank deposits and other property may be among the last remaining links between families and relatives who were persecuted or murdered during the Holocaust.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum describes the Holocaust as the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by Nazi Germany and its allies and collaborators between 1933 and 1945.
For surviving families, restitution efforts can therefore carry both financial and deeply personal meaning.
Why This Scam Warning Matters
Older adults are frequently encouraged to be cautious about fraud, but this warning involves another layer of vulnerability.
Holocaust restitution claims can require people to discuss family histories, property records, insurance policies and other personal information. Fraudulent organizations could potentially use the emotional importance of those records to make their communications appear trustworthy.
That is why independent verification is essential.
A professional-looking website, official-sounding organization name or reference to restitution does not by itself establish legitimacy.
The DFS warning does not tell families to stop pursuing legitimate Holocaust claims. It tells them to make sure they are dealing with a verified organization before moving forward.
That balance is important. Survivors and heirs should not be frightened away from compensation they may legally deserve because scammers are attempting to exploit the process.
How to Verify a Holocaust Restitution Communication
Families who receive a letter, email or other message about Holocaust compensation can take several practical steps.
Contact HCPO directly
Do not use contact information supplied only in the suspicious communication.
Instead, contact the official New York State Holocaust Claims Processing Office at:
Phone: 800-695-3318
Email: claimsques@dfs.ny.gov
DFS says the office can help people determine whether a communication came from HCPO or is affiliated with it.
Do not rush
A message claiming that money is available can create pressure to act quickly.
Take time to confirm who is making the offer before submitting documents or personal information.
Talk with trusted family members
Survivors who receive unexpected correspondence may want to review it with a trusted relative, attorney, caregiver or recognized survivor assistance organization before responding.
Remember that HCPO assistance is free
New York’s Holocaust Claims Processing Office does not charge people for its services.
That provides families with a trusted place to begin asking questions without paying a private organization simply to determine whether a claim may exist.
Protect Survivors While Preserving Their Right to Restitution
New York’s warning should not discourage Holocaust survivors or their heirs from pursuing property or compensation that rightfully belongs to them.
Instead, it is a reminder that restitution efforts must be protected from people who may seek to take advantage of survivors.
The state’s message is straightforward: verify first, then act.
Families should be especially careful with unexpected letters, emails or online messages promising Holocaust compensation. Do not provide sensitive information until the organization has been independently confirmed.
Anyone uncertain about a communication can contact the New York State Holocaust Claims Processing Office at 800-695-3318 or claimsques@dfs.ny.gov.
Sharing this warning with older relatives, caregivers, synagogues, senior organizations and community groups could also help prevent someone from becoming a victim.
The assets involved in Holocaust restitution were taken under some of history’s darkest circumstances. Survivors and their descendants should be able to seek their return without facing another attempt to exploit them.
