An advocate for taxpayers in New York State is alerting residents to beware of scam artists asking for personal information to "confirm" that they are eligible for a tax rebate. Margaret Neri, an advocate for New York State Taxpayer Rights, says anyone who gets a call from someone seeking personal information, report it to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Line at 1-800-771-7755. The State Tax Department always makes first contact by letter, which includes a phone number you can call to verify that it was sent by the agency. So far, there have been none of these type of calls reported in Chautauqua County, with initial reports indicating that calls have been made in Central New York. However, the Tax Department advises all New Yorkers to be vigilant when being asked for personal information.
