New Yorkers report $534 million in fraud losses as imposter scams rise

New Yorkers reported $534.0 million in fraud losses in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024. The report, published in March 2025, identifies imposter scams as the third largest category of complaints in the state, accounting for 11 percent of the 278,662 total reports filed by residents. This category trailed only credit bureau disputes, which comprised 25 percent of reports, and identity theft, which made up 17 percent. The median loss for these reports was $429, and New York ranked 13th among states for fraud reports per 100,000 residents.

The official count likely understates the total volume of fraud. The FTC’s state data excludes 17,794 reports supplied directly by the New York Attorney General’s office. Additionally, the figures only reflect individuals who took the step to report their losses. National trends indicate an accelerating problem. In June 2026, the FTC released 2025 data showing that people lost $3.5 billion to imposter scams nationwide. Nearly one in three fraud reports involved an imposter, with government impersonators collecting $920 million, an increase from $789 million in 2024. Business impersonators, particularly fake bank staff, accounted for nearly $1 billion in losses.

Yonkers police have focused on preventing these schemes in local communities. In a January 2026 release, the department noted that detectives conducted prevention talks for approximately 100 seniors at the Bernice Spreckman Center and 60 seniors at the Chema Center. Officers emphasized that urgent demands for payment and requests to use gift cards or wire transfers are primary warning signs. The department also reminded residents that scammers continue to spoof official numbers, including the headquarters line at (914) 377-7900. Police maintain that no government entity will ever call to demand immediate payment or issue threats.

A specific variation of the imposter scam involves physical currency and precious metals. The New York Attorney General issued a warning in August 2026 regarding gold bar frauds. These schemes typically begin with a pop-up alert claiming a computer account is compromised. A caller posing as an investigator then convinces the victim to withdraw savings, purchase gold bars, and hand them to a courier for safekeeping. The NYPD has investigated more than 100 such cases over the last two years, with total losses exceeding $100 million. Victims are often instructed not to discuss the matter with family or bank employees, a condition the Attorney General says should prompt immediate skepticism.

Digital impersonation is also evolving. The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report recorded over $5 million in losses from scams where criminals used cloned voices to mimic loved ones in distress. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s February 2026 alert on pig butchering scams describes a slow-burn process. Scammers build trust over time through social media or messaging apps before moving victims to platforms like WhatsApp or WeChat. They then present investment opportunities with growing balances until the funds can no longer be withdrawn. Profile photos in these scams are frequently stolen from other individuals.

Officials recommend verifying identities before sending money. A reverse image search using tools like Google Lens or TinEye can determine if a profile photo appears elsewhere on the web. A face search tool such as FaceSearch can compare a suspect face against public web images to find other instances of the same person. If the same face appears under a different name or on a stock photo site, the profile is likely fake. An empty search result is not definitive proof of authenticity, as photos may only exist in private accounts.

Kelly Chiarella, director of the Yonkers Office for the Aging, advised residents to view unsolicited contact with suspicion. In January, she stated, “communication is a one-way street. If it’s coming to you, don’t trust it.” She and other officials recommend treating unexpected calls, texts, or pop-ups as unverified regardless of the caller ID displayed. If a contact requests secrecy from family or bank staff, or asks for payment via gift cards, wire, cryptocurrency, or cash to a courier, the interaction should stop.

Residents who suspect they have been targeted can contact the Yonkers Police Department at (914) 377-7900. The New York Attorney General’s office accepts consumer complaints at ag.ny.gov or via the OAG Help Line at 1-800-771-7755. The FTC accepts reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, which feeds into the Sentinel database used by law enforcement. Victims are advised to save all texts, call logs, and screenshots of profiles before initiating contact with these agencies.