How common is identity theft in New York? (2026 Update)

Understanding New York's identity theft crisis

New York faces an identity theft crisis, ranking #15 nationally by per-capita rate (297 reports per 100K) with 59,017 identity theft reports in just Q1-Q3 2025—already at 101.0% of 2024's full-year total of 58,692. This represents approximately 216 new victims every single day across New York, with one new victim every 6.7 minutes around the clock. For comprehensive national context, see our 2025 Identity Theft Statistics report. All data is based on FTC Consumer Sentinel Network data.

The concentration of identity theft in New York reflects the state's unique vulnerabilities and risk factors. New York's 19.7 million residents. Comprehensive identity theft protection is essential for New York residents.

Why New York ranks #15 in identity theft statistics

NYC Financial Services Epicenter: New York City hosts the world's largest concentration of financial institutions—Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, major banks, investment firms, and fintech startups. This financial infrastructure processes trillions in daily transactions while maintaining massive customer and employee databases vulnerable to sophisticated breaches. Credit card fraud (30,009 reports) dominates New York's identity theft landscape, reflecting organized criminal networks specifically targeting the state's payment processing systems concentrated in Manhattan.

International Gateway Status: New York serves as America's primary international gateway, with JFK and Newark airports processing 65+ million international passengers annually¹. This creates unique exposure to passport theft, document fraud, and cross-border criminal operations. The state's massive immigrant population (22.6% foreign-born²) faces targeted scams in dozens of languages, with government imposter scams often involving fake consulate officials, immigration threats, and exploitation of visa status fears.

Mass Transit Vulnerability: NYC's subway system carries 5.5 million daily riders³, creating massive vulnerability to physical wallet theft, phone theft exposing mobile banking apps, and organized pickpocket operations. The density of commuters in confined spaces makes theft operations extremely efficient. Phone or utilities fraud (3,594 reports) often begins with stolen phones containing saved banking credentials.

Real Estate Market Complexity: New York's extreme real estate market—with median NYC apartment prices exceeding $1.1 million⁴—creates wire fraud opportunities on an unprecedented scale. Criminals intercepting closing communications can redirect six-figure down payments. Real estate fraud generates significant losses, often from business email compromise during high-pressure transactions.

Corporate Headquarters Concentration: New York hosts 50+ Fortune 500 company headquarters⁵ including Pfizer, Verizon, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs. These corporate giants maintain massive employee databases and customer records vulnerable to breaches. Business imposter scams generate significant losses, often starting with compromised corporate email accounts.

Regional Risk Concentration: While New York falls in the Northeast region, NYC residents face dramatically higher risk than upstate. The statewide average of 297 per 100K masks NYC's concentrated vulnerability where rates exceed 500 per 100K in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

By income & socioeconomic status

Identity theft in New York cuts across income levels but manifests differently:

High-Income (>$150K): Targeted for sophisticated fraud—wire transfer scams, investment fraud, real estate title theft, business identity theft. High-income residents maintain higher credit limits and account balances, making them attractive targets.

Middle-Income ($40K-$100K): Highest volume of victims. Have established credit but may lack resources for premium monitoring services. Actively use credit for mortgages, auto loans, education—all fraud vectors.

Lower-Income (<$40K): Disproportionately impacted by government benefits fraud, particularly SNAP fraud, unemployment fraud, and healthcare fraud. May have less financial cushion to absorb losses and fewer resources for recovery.

For comparison, see how New York compares to other high-risk states like New Jersey.

Fraud patterns and identity theft statistics

Most common types of identity theft in New York (2025)

Based on FTC Consumer Sentinel Network data for New York, the following identity theft types are most prevalent:

Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, New York Identity Theft Data, 2025 YTD (Q1-Q3)

Year-over-year comparison (2024 vs 2025 YTD)

New York reported 59,017 identity theft reports in Q1-Q3 2025, compared to 58,692 reports for the full year 2024. This represents 101.0% of the 2024 total in just three quarters, indicating New York is on track to exceed 2024's numbers.

For comprehensive national context and trends, see our 2025 Identity Theft Statistics report.

2025 YTD New York trends by age group

Identity theft victimization varies significantly by age, with different age groups facing distinct fraud patterns and loss amounts.

Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, New York Age & Fraud Data, 2025 YTD (Q1-Q3)

Who is at risk of identity theft in New York?

Wall Street and Financial Services Professionals: NYC's 500,000+ financial services workers handle sensitive client information and substantial personal assets, making them extremely attractive targets. These professionals' high salaries and extensive credit profiles make them targets for sophisticated loan fraud. Criminals research finance executives on LinkedIn, then launch spear-phishing attacks using SEC, FINRA, or Federal Reserve terminology. Business email compromise specifically targets investment advisors and wealth managers with authority to move client funds.

NYC Subway and Mass Transit Commuters: The 5.5 million daily subway riders face physical theft of phones, wallets, and bags in crowded trains and stations. Stolen phones immediately expose mobile banking apps ted by biometric locks. Organized theft rings operate during rush hours, quickly monetizing stolen payment cards bef4.5 million can cancel them. The density and chaos of NYC transit creates perfect conditions for professional pickpockets.

Immigrant Communities: New York's 4.5 million foreign-born residents face targeted scams in multiple languages. Government imposter scams ($134.2 million) exploit immigration status fears, with criminals impersonating ICE agents, consulate officials, or immigration court personnel. Chinese, Hispanic, Russian, and South Asian communities face sophisticated scams using cultural knowledge and language skills. Fear of deportation prevents many victims from reporting fraud.

Real Estate Buyers and Sellers: NYC's extreme real estate market creates massive wire fraud exposure. Buyers transferring six-figure down payments become targets for business email compromise—criminals intercept closing communications and redirect payments to criminal-controlled accounts. The urgency and complexity of NYC real estate transactions means buyers may skip verification steps. The $30.7 millitate fraud represents devastating losses for victims.

College Students: New York's 1.1 million college students across Columbia, NYU, CUNY system, and dozens of other institutions face employment fraud and housing scams. Students encounter fake NYC internship offers requiring background check fees. The extremely competitive NYC rental market creates vulnerability to apartment scams—fake listings requiring wire transfer deposits before viewing properties. International students face additionaed fraud.

Small Business Owners: New York's 2.1 million small businesses face vendor fraud and business imposter scams. NYC's high operating costs mean businesses process large payment volumes, creating opportunities for fake invoice schemes. The $116.4 million in business imposter losses includes criminals intercepting legitimate supplier payments and redirecting them to criminal accounts.

Corporate Employees at Fortune 500 Companies: Employees at New York's corporate headquarters face credential theft and business email compromise. These workers' corporate email accounts become gateways to payroll diversion, vendor payment redirection, and trade secret theft. Remote work policies created vulnerabilities criminals exploit through fake VPN login pages and IT support impersonation.

Healthcare Workers and Patients: New York's massive healthcare system serves millions of patients, creating extensive medical records databases vulnerable to breaches. NYC Health + Hospitals alone serves 1 million+ patients annually. Medical identity theft allows criminals to file false insurance claims, obtain prescription drugs, and access government benefits. Healthcare workers' personal information appears in employment databases repeatedly targeted.

Elderly Residents in Rent-Controlled Apartments: NYC's elderly residents in rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments face unique vulnerability. Criminals target them with tech support scams, IRS imposters, and grandparent scams. These seniors often have substantial savings from decades in NYC but limited technology skills, making them susceptible to phone-based fraud. Isolation in large apartment buildings means fraud can continue undetected.

Tourism and Hospitality Workers: NYC's 380,000+ hospitality workers face employment fraud and identity theft from workplace data breaches. Restaurant and hotel workers often work multiple part-time positions with inconsistent income, making them targets for payday loan scams and wage advance fraud. Seasonal employment gaps create vulnerability to fake job offers.

How to protect yourself from fraud in New York

New York-Specific Legal Protections: New York General Business Law Section 380-r through 380-x and Personal Property Law Section 450 provide comprehensive identity theft protections. Victims can place security freezes on credit reports for free. Contact the New York Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Frauds at (800) 771-7755 or visit ag.ny.gov for assistance.

NYC Subway and Transit Safety: Enable biometric locks (fingerprint or facial recognition) on smartphones to protect mobile banking apps if phones are stolen on crowded trains. Use mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) rather than carrying physical cards—these generate one-time transaction codes making stolen information useless. Carry backup payment methods separately from your primary wallet. Be especially vigilant during rush hours and on crowded platforms. Report theft to MTA Police at (212) 878-1001.

Credit Card Fraud Prevention (56,857 Reports): Enable real-time transaction alerts through card issuer mobile apps—NYC's organized fraud rings work extremely quickly. Set geographic spending limits on cards if you don't travel frequently. Use separate cards for online purchases versus in-person transactions to isolate potential breaches. Review statements daily, not weekly, to catch fraudulent charges in NYC's high-volume fraud environment.

Business Email Compromise Prevention ($116.4M Risk): New York businesses should implement DMARC email authentication to prevent domain spoofing. Verify all payment requests and vendor changes through phone calls to previously established numbers—never rely solely on email. Require three-person authorization for wire transfers over $50,000 given NYC's high transaction volumes. Train employees to recognize executive impersonation: urgent requests, bypassing approval processes, and pressure for immediate action.

Real Estate Wire Fraud Prevention ($30.7M Losses): NYC home buyers must verify all wire transfer instructions through phone calls to known title company or attorney numbers—never use contact information from emails. Verbally confirm recipient bank details, account numbers, and amounts before initiating any real estate wire transfer. Given NYC's six-figure down payments, fraudulent wires result in catastrophic losses. Title companies and real estate attorneys should implement callback procedures for all wire instructions. Consider wire transfer insurance for down payments over $100,000.

Government Imposter Scam Awareness ($134.2M Losses): Immigrant communities should understand that ICE, consulates, and immigration courts never demand payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. These agencies send written notices and provide multiple payment options. Immigration status is never resolved through phone payments. Hang up on threatening calls and independently verify through official agency numbers from government websites. Community organizations can help—contact New York Immigration Coalition at (212) 627-2227.

Wall Street Professional Protections: Financial services employees should use separate email addresses for work versus personal communications to isolate credential theft exposure. Enable multi-factor authentication on all personal financial accounts—even as finance professionals, personal accounts need protection. Be extremely suspicious of emails from SEC, FINRA, or Federal Reserve requesting login credentials—verify through official channels. Report suspected corporate email compromise to compliance officers immediately.

Student and Graduate Protection: NYC students should verify internship offers directly through company career pages, never through third-party recruiters requesting fees. Never wire security deposits for apartments before physically viewing properties and verifying landlord legitimacy through NYC property tax records or ACRIS system. Columbia and NYU students should use university career services to verify all employment opportunities. International students should verify visa-related communications through university international student offices.

Small Business Safeguards: NYC business owners should establish payment verification procedures requiring verbal confirmation for all wire transfers over $10,000. Use dedicated payment approval email addresses never shared externally. Verify new vendors through New York Department of State business entity search. Maintain cyber liability insurance covering business email compromise—NYC's high business costs mean fraudulent payments can be devastating.

Immigrant Community Protections: Share fraud education through community organizations, ethnic media, and houses of worship in multiple languages. Create family code words to verify emergency calls. Organizations serving specific communities can distribute fraud prevention materials in native languages. Chinese-American Planning Council (212) 941-0920, Hispanic Federation (212) 233-8955, and other community groups provide fraud education.

Elderly Resident Protections: NYC seniors should place fraud alerts on credit reports and use call-blocking apps. Never provide remote computer access to unsolicited callers claiming to be tech support. Register with Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. Report elder fraud to NYC Department for the Aging at (212) 244-6469. Designate a trusted contact on financial accounts who receives alerts for unusual activity.

New York-Specific Resources: File identity theft reports with NYPD (911 or local precinct) and obtain report numbers. Contact New York Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Frauds at (800) 771-7755 or file online at ag.ny.gov. Submit FTC reports at identitytheft.gov. For business fraud, contact NY Department of State Division of Consumer Protection at (800) 697-1220. Securities fraud reports go to NY Attorney General Investor Protection Bureau at (212) 416-8000. Healthcare fraud reports go to NY Office of the Medicaid Inspector General at (877) 87-FRAUD. Transit-related theft goes to MTA Police at (212) 878-1001. Real estate fraud should be reported to NY Department of State Real Estate Division at (518) 474-4429.

Recommended response to unusual credit activity

If you notice unusual credit activity or want to proactively protect against new account fraud, credit freezes prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. Contact all three bureaus:

• Experian: (888) 397-3742
• Equifax: (800) 685-1111
• TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

Free, reversible, doesn't affect credit scores, can be temporarily lifted for legitimate credit applications. For ongoing protection, consider credit monitoring from all three bureaus.

How to report identity theft in New York

Immediate actions (first 48 hours)

Step 1: Document Everything

• Screenshot all fraudulent transactions
• Save emails, texts, or calls from fraudsters
• Create dedicated folder for all identity theft documentation
• Start detailed timeline of events

Step 2: Place Fraud Alerts

Call any one credit bureau to place fraud alert (they notify the other two). Makes identity theft harder for criminals and entitles you to free credit reports.

Step 3: File Reports

• FTC: IdentityTheft.gov to create official federal report
• Local Police: File report with your local police department (required by many creditors)
• New York AG: File complaint with New York Attorney General - Consumer Protection Bureau (800) 771-7755

Step 4: Contact Affected Institutions

• Close compromised accounts immediately
• Dispute fraudulent charges in writing—verbal disputes aren't legally sufficient
• Request fraud affidavits from financial institutions
• Change ALL passwords and PINs, even for accounts not obviously affected

Week 1-2: Secure your identity

Freeze Credit Reports: Contact all three bureaus to freeze reports. Free, reversible, prevents new accounts.

Request Extended Fraud Alert: With police report, you're entitled to 7-year fraud alert (vs. standard 1-year).

Review All Credit Reports: Order reports from all three bureaus. Examine every account, inquiry, and personal information entry. Dispute all fraud vectors.

Month 1-3: Deep clean & monitor

Close All Fraudulent Accounts: Send certified letters to creditors disputing charges. Include copy of FTC report and police report. Keep copies of all correspondence.

Monitor Aggressively: Check credit reports regularly for an extended period. Review bank/credit statements weekly. Set up account alerts for all transactions over $50.

Address Specific Fraud Types:

• Tax Fraud: File Form 14039 with IRS, request Identity Protection PIN for future filings at IRS.gov
• Medical Fraud: Request medical records, dispute charges with insurance companies
• Real Estate/Mortgage Fraud: Alert title companies, mortgage servicers; may require attorney. Home title monitoring can help prevent future incidents
• Employment Fraud: Contact employers where fraudulent employment occurred, file with Social Security Administration at SSA.gov

Long-term recovery

Identity theft recovery timelines vary significantly by case complexity. Simple cases involving a single credit card may resolve relatively quickly, while moderate cases with multiple accounts typically require more extensive documentation and follow-up. Complex cases involving criminal identity theft, tax fraud, or real estate fraud can take substantially longer to resolve.

When to Seek Professional Help:

• Criminal charges filed in your name
• Multiple fraud types occurring simultaneously
• Real estate fraud involving property titles
• Creditors refusing to remove fraudulent accounts
• Cases exceeding $50,000 in total losses
• Business identity theft

New York identity theft resources

State resources

New York Attorney General - Consumer Protection Bureau: (800) 771-7755

https://ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds - Consumer complaints, fraud reporting

Federal resources

FTC Identity Theft Hotline: IdentityTheft.gov or (877) 438-4338

Social Security Fraud Hotline: (800) 269-0271 | Visit SSA.gov to create a My Social Security account

IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit: (800) 908-4490 | Request an IP PIN at IRS.gov

Credit bureaus (fraud alerts & freezes)

Place fraud alerts and freezes with all three bureaus:

• Experian: (888) 397-3742
• Equifax: (800) 685-1111
• TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

Support services

Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC): (888) 400-5530 - Free victim assistance with live counselors. Visit idtheftcenter.org for resources

Frequently asked questions

Why does New York rank #15 nationally for identity theft?

New York ranks #15 nationally with 297 reports per 100K residents in 2025 YTD. The state's unique risk factors contribute to elevated identity theft rates.

What are the most common types of identity theft in New York?

Credit card fraud, loan/lease fraud, and other identity theft categories are the most common types reported in New York.

How many identity theft reports were filed in New York in 2025?

New York reported 59,017 identity theft reports in Q1-Q3 2025, already at 101.0% of 2024's full-year total of 58,692.

What should I do if I'm a victim of identity theft in New York?

Immediately file reports with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, your local police department, and the New York Attorney General. Place fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus and freeze your credit reports.

Are there state-specific identity theft laws in New York?

Yes. New York has specific identity theft laws. Check with the New York Attorney General's office for details on state-specific protections and reporting requirements.

How can I protect myself from identity theft in New York?

Given New York's #15 ranking, comprehensive protection is essential. Use credit freezes, enable transaction alerts, monitor credit reports regularly, and consider identity theft protection services designed for high-risk areas.

Sources & Citations