ANCHOR Tax Rebate Scam: Be Aware Of Texts Seeking Info

NEW JERSEY — Treasury officials are warning New Jersey residents about a possible text scam, as millions of homeowners and renters become eligible to apply for ANCHOR benefits this year.

More than 2 million New Jersey homeowners and renters will be eligible to apply for the property tax rebate program, which pays up to $1,500, for the first time this year. Officials are reminding these residents that the Division of Taxation will never ask for personally-identifiable information over text message.

This reminder comes after a resident reached out directly to the Division and reported a possible scam text regarding their ANCHOR benefits, said officials with the Department of the Treasury.

The text, provided to Patch, asked the recipient to reply if they received a Social Security benefit or filed taxes in New Jersey.

The text in question (pictured above) claimed to be from "Anchor Benefit Confirmation Letter," notifying the person about their eligibility.

The Division of Taxation has updated its ANCHOR (Affordable Communities for Homeowners and Renters) web page with a scam alert, saying that the Division “will not initiate a text exchange to request personally identifiable information regarding ANCHOR benefits or income tax filing.”

Danielle Currie, deputy director of communications for the Treasurer’s Office, said taxpayers should contact the Division of Taxation directly "before providing any sensitive personal information in response to received communications claiming to be related to the ANCHOR program." The customer service division can be reached at 609-292-6400.

Treasury officials have not reported any other instances of a resident getting an ANCHOR scam text, as of Thursday, Sept. 12.

“Should we become aware of other future scam attempts, we will continue to post warnings on the website and social media,” Currie told Patch.

The Division of Taxation also sounded the alarm about a possible email scam earlier this year.

The more than 2 million residents who are newly eligible for ANCHOR this year should have received a green or purple filing packet in the mail by Sept. 1 with filing instructions. Applicants have until Dec. 29 to file an application, and benefits will be distributed on a rolling basis within 90 days of filing.

Those who owned or rented their primary residence in New Jersey as of Oct. 1, 2020, and made under a certain income threshold, are eligible.

And, more than 1.3 million people who got an ANCHOR rebate last year will not have to file again. The Division of Taxation began mailing benefit confirmation letters to these residents on Aug. 17.

If recipients have not moved or changed their bank information/other qualifying information since last year, their benefits should be automatically distributed by Nov. 1, said Treasury officials. The money will arrive via check or direct deposit, matching their choice from last year.

Related articles:

• ANCHOR Tax Rebate: New Date For Payments
• ANCHOR Tax Rebate: Eligibility Expands, Application Process Changes