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With the back-to-school shopping season in full swing, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a warning about potential scams targeting parents and students. As inflation and looming tariffs drive early shopping, scammers are exploiting the situation by creating fake ads and websites that mimic legitimate ones. According to Governor Hochul, "We want families to enjoy the remainder of summer, not spend it dealing with the fallout of scams while shopping for the school year ahead."
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection advises shoppers to verify the legitimacy of sellers, especially if prices seem unusually low. Additionally, scammers have been known to send phishing emails claiming that a delivery of school supplies was missed, which can expose recipients to malware if they click on links.
The Division recommends using a credit card for online purchases whenever possible and paying close attention to return and refund policies to protect against financial loss and compromised personal information.