Protecting New York Seniors from Government Impersonation Scams
Government impersonation scams are surging nationwide, and New York seniors are not immune. In 2025, 547 older adults in New York reported government impersonation fraud to the FBI. Scammers pose as officials from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or law enforcement to frighten seniors into sending money or revealing personal information.
Why New York Seniors Are Targeted
New York’s population and culture create specific vulnerabilities that government impersonation scammers exploit:
- Dense urban targeting: New York City’s dense population means scammers can target thousands of seniors in a single area code, making mass-calling campaigns highly efficient
- Financial center proximity: New York’s status as the nation’s financial capital makes investment scams sound more credible to local seniors
- Diverse immigrant communities: NYC’s senior immigrant population faces language-specific scams in Russian, Chinese, Spanish, and Yiddish targeting isolated communities
- Upstate isolation: While NYC has resources, rural upstate New York has aging populations far from consumer protection offices and tech support
- High cost of living pressure: Expensive housing and healthcare make New York seniors more susceptible to promises of financial relief and investment returns
5-Year Trend: Government Impersonation Scam Losses in New York (2021–2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Losses | YoY Change |
| 2021 | 143 | $3.6M | — |
| 2022 | 237 | $39.7M | +990% |
| 2023 | 192 | $14.2M | -64% |
| 2024 | 252 | $14.8M | +4% |
| 2025 | 547 | $30.7M | +108% |
| 5-Year Total | 1,371 | $103.0M | +742% |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021–2025. Victims and losses for New York residents aged 60 and older.
New York ranks #3 nationally in government impersonation scam losses targeting seniors, with $30.7 million lost in 2025 across 547 reported victims. That represents 7.2% of all U.S. government impersonation scam losses against older adults. Year over year, losses surged +108% — significantly faster than the national average of +95%. Over the full five-year period, government impersonation scam losses in New York grew +742%.
Complete guide: For detailed warning signs, protection strategies, and what to do if you’ve been targeted, read our comprehensive Government Impersonation Scam Prevention Guide. You can also take our free Online Training courses to test your knowledge.
Report Government Impersonation Scams in New York
- Office of the New York Attorney General: (518) 776-2000 | ag.ny.gov
- Social Security OIG: oig.ssa.gov
- IRS: irs.gov/report-phishing
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- New York Adult Protective Services: (844) 697-3505
Free Training Available
Take our free online course to learn more about protecting yourself from government impersonation scams:
→ Start Government Impersonation Scam Awareness Training (Module 5)