В США предупредили о мошеннических письмах от несуществующего центра по компенсациям жертвам Холокоста

MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) — A descendant of Holocaust survivors received a letter claiming to represent the “Jewish Holocaust Claims Center,” or JHCC, about a “Holocaust Survivors Compensation Program.” This is according to a case reported to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). No such organization or program exists. Scam letter claimed compensation from German government The letter stated that due to international agreements, eligible victims and their descendants were receiving compensation from the German government. It correctly identified the recipient as being related to a Holocaust survivor and asked them to contact the JHCC’s regional office to finish processing their claim. The letter included multiple forms of contact information. Michelle Reinen, administrator for the Division of Consumer Protection with DATCP, said the letter was well written and claimed to be from a Jewish Holocaust Claims Center. It stated the recipient’s family name had been identified and encouraged the person to submit a claim for compensation from the German government. “We do see a lot of variety where letters seem specifically targeted, if you will,” Reinen said. “But this one seemed especially egregious in its nature.” Consumer found no record of the organization When the consumer tried to visit the organization’s website, they could not find the webpage or any record of the organization existing. When the consumer reexamined the letter, they found it was addressed to a stranger, despite the envelope being addressed to their name and address. The letter also gave two separate names for the letter’s sender, and the return address differed from the address of the regional office listed in the letter. Reinen said any one of those issues could have been a simple mistake, but she said the combination of red flags allowed the consumer to back away from the situation and avoid giving personal information in exchange for what the letter described as free money. The consumer reported the letter to DATCP. Further research revealed the same fictional organization had sent letters to other consumers across the country. Reinen urges verification before responding Reinen said scammers will take advantage of small or specific groups, and being identified individually by name can’t be treated as a red flag on its own, or the reverse — something that builds confidence in a letter’s legitimacy. She said people need to take time to verify and confirm information by contacting consumer protection, contacting the Better Business Bureau, searching online for the organization named in the letter, and using information outside of the letter to confirm whether something is legitimate. Last month, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the New York State Department of Financial Services had issued a consumer notice warning Holocaust survivors and their families about the same Jewish Holocaust Claims Center entity after the department could not verify its identity, services or legitimacy. The New York office referred the matter to law enforcement and had the entity’s website removed by its hosting provider. “Scamming and stealing from Holocaust survivors and their families is the lowest of lows,” Gov. Hochul said.