Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

New York attorney general warns of Passover scams fleecing Jews

“It’s illegal to take advantage of a religious holiday to charge more for services,” per Letitia James’s office.

Letitia James
New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during an MLK Day public policy forum at NAN Headquarters in New York on Jan. 15, 2024. Credit: Lev Radin/Shutterstock.

Jews should be cautious about scams, in which businesses charge extra under the guise of Passover “specials,” the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James warned on Tuesday.

“With Passover starting soon, New Yorkers should beware of businesses claiming to offer ‘Passover Specials,’ like car-cleaning services, but are actually charging more for Passover-related services to take advantage of the Jewish community,” the attorney general’s office wrote. “This is blatantly antisemitic.”

“Many Jews clean their homes and cars before Passover to remove ‘chametz’ or leavened products, and it’s illegal to take advantage of a religious holiday to charge more for services,” James’s office added. “If you believe you’ve been a victim of this discrimination, contact us.”

James’s office issued a similar warning on social media in 2022.

“Four will be released immediately, and four will be sentenced to one month in prison,” the U.S. president stated.
A university spokesman told JNS that “the condemnation of such a peaceful event to share a story of resilience in the face of extreme suffering is antithetical to the values of our Bruin community.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that police are working not only to hold the people involved accountable but also “ensure that this isn’t something that is becoming normal in our city.”
“Judea and Samaria are central to Jewish history and faith,” stated David Livingston, a Republican state representative. “This resolution affirms what is true and rejects language created to deny it.”
The police said it was eager to track down a group of young men in the area at the time.
“If these allegations are true, the SPLC is likely to be the largest single funder of white nationalist extremism in the United States,” stated Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.