The 10 scams hitting New Yorkers most right now

Complaints about retail sales, including online fraud and price gouging, were the most common types of consumer concerns last year, according to the state attorney general’s office.

New York Attorney General Letitia James released the list of the top 10 fraud categories Monday to kick off National Consumer Protection Week.

The Federal Trade Commission established the week in 1999 to promote consumer education and increase fraud awareness, with the campaign staying relevant as losses from scams skyrocket. Americans reported fraud losses totaling more than $12.5 billion to the FTC in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023. New Yorkers last year commonly reported concerns about high prices for essentials, housing issues, bank fraud and online privacy violations. 

“New Yorkers are already feeling the squeeze of higher prices, and scams, hidden fees, and deceptive practices can make daily life even harder to afford,” James said, encouraging New Yorkers to report suspected scams and frauds by filing online or to call 1-800-771-7755. 

New Yorkers filed a little over 4,800 complaints with the attorney general’s office about retail sales in 2025, with common sources of fraud involving online purchases, deceptive advertising, price gouging, defective products and poor customer service.

“It doesn’t surprise me that consumers are really thinking about whether or not the price that they’re seeing in a retail environment is fair and ethical, or if in some way their data is being used against them for price discrimination,” said Stacey Finkelstein, a marketing professor at Stony Brook University.

James warned customers to look out for surveillance pricing, which sets prices based on customers’ personal data, usually on company apps or through loyalty programs.

The state passed legislation that, as of Nov. 10, requires most companies using algorithmic pricing to clearly notify customers that prices were determined based on their personal data.

Price gouging is also banned in New York, meaning businesses are not permitted to sell essential goods or services like hotel lodgings or transportation at “excessive” prices during emergencies, the attorney general’s office said.

Among more than 30,000 complaints comprising the top 10 categories, other chief topics of concern included issues with the internet, automobiles, concerns about credit, banking and mortgages, and disputes between landlords and tenants.

James also reminds tenants that landlords must return security deposits within 14 days of moving out, or else pay up to twice the amount. Landlords must provide itemized receipts for money taken out for damages.

Additionally, New Yorkers should beware of swindlers posing as immigration service providers falsely promising citizenship and residency. To avoid fraud, individuals should work only with licensed lawyers or authorized providers, never sign blank applications or documents without fully understanding them, and avoid paying in cash or through wire transfer.

The overall number of complaints comprising the state’s list is low relative to the population of New York, Finkelstein noted, which indicates issues surrounding consumer fairness and fraud might be underreported.

“This is a trusted entity that’s looking out for the population’s interest that is willing to take action,” she said. “What would a public service campaign look like so that people know that the AG’s office is taking this seriously, and if they do report something, that there's a benefit for them?”

By Brianne Ledda

brianne.ledda@newsday.com@brianne_ledda

Brianne Ledda covers personal finance and affordability for Newsday. She previously covered Southold and Greenport for The Suffolk Times and is a graduate of Stony Brook University.