Protecting New York Seniors from Romance Scams
Romance scams are among the most emotionally devastating forms of fraud targeting older adults. In 2025, 489 New York seniors reported romance scam complaints to the FBI. These scams exploit loneliness and the desire for connection, draining victims of their savings while leaving deep emotional wounds.
Why New York Seniors Are Especially Vulnerable
New York’s demographics and culture create specific risk factors for romance scams:
- 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: Romance Scam Losses in New York (2021–2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Losses | YoY Change |
| 2021 | 341 | $26.4M | — |
| 2022 | 288 | $16.6M | -37% |
| 2023 | 299 | $18.0M | +8% |
| 2024 | 397 | $21.1M | +17% |
| 2025 | 489 | $28.5M | +35% |
| 5-Year Total | 1,814 | $110.6M | +8% |
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 #5 nationally in romance scam losses targeting seniors, with $28.5 million lost in 2025 across 489 reported victims. That represents 4.7% of all U.S. romance scam losses against older adults. Year over year, losses changed +35%, outperforming the national average of +46%. Over the full five-year period, romance scam losses in New York grew +8%.
Complete guide: For detailed warning signs, protection strategies, and what to do if you’ve been targeted, read our comprehensive Romance Scam Prevention Guide. You can also take our free Online Training courses to test your knowledge.
Report Romance Scams in New York
- Office of the New York Attorney General: (518) 776-2000 | ag.ny.gov
- New York Adult Protective Services: (844) 697-3505
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- Dating platform: Report the profile on the platform where you were contacted
Free Training Available
Take our free online course to learn more about protecting yourself from romance scams:
→ Start Romance Scam Awareness Training (Module 4)