Syracuse, N.Y. – The state’s NY-Alert app was hacked last week, sending a message about a bogus transaction to the phones of tens of thousands of people signed up to get emergency notifications, state officials confirmed.

The phishing notice pinged 163,000 phones, or 87% of the accounts signed up for the state’s emergency notices, according to Scott Reif, spokesperson for the New York State Office of Information Technology Services.

The state is warning people to ignore any notice from NY-Alert that asks the recipient to inquire about a fake bank transaction.

“We are aware of a text message sent in error to some members of the public,” Reif said. “Do not reply to the text message or call the phone number. This text message was not sent by New York State, and an investigation is ongoing

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