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Scams Drain $47,000 an Hour from Older New Yorkers; AARP New York Helps Syracuse Residents Protect Their Finances

Brandon Vogel,

AARP New York

Big stack of shredded documents to protect confidential information, safety is first concept, background, top view, closeup

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Syracuse – Fraud and identity theft continue to pose a growing threat to older New Yorkers, with New Yorkers age 60 and older lost $408 million to scams last year, a $151 million increase from the year before, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, nearly $47,000 every hour.

New York residents reported 128,928 fraud complaints and $733.2 million in losses in 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And the top fraud committed was imposter scams, the agency said. New research from AARP underscores the scale of the problem. Nearly four in ten U.S. adults, about 103 million people, have already experienced fraud; roughly 159 million worry about becoming victims.

The AARP report also highlights risky behaviors that can expose consumers to fraud, including answering unsolicited calls or texts, reusing passwords, downloading free apps, and limited use of multifactor authentication. Nine in ten Americans agree that fraud can happen to anyone—reinforcing the need for prevention efforts that combine awareness, education, and practical tools to keep New Yorkers safe.

“Too often, financial exploitation begins with information that should never fall into the wrong hands,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “Safely disposing of documents with personal or financial details is a simple but powerful step people can take to protect themselves and their families, particularly older New Yorkers who are being targeted and losing money at alarming rates.”

While high‑tech scams dominate headlines, experts warn that low‑tech fraud remains a serious risk, with thieves still stealing sensitive information from trash and recycling to commit identity theft.

To help address the threat, AARP New York today hosted The Big Shred NY! at Believers Chapel in Cicero, giving residents a secure way to destroy sensitive documents. The event is part of AARP New York’s long‑running statewide shredding initiative, now in its 12th year, with more than two dozen communities participating in 2026.

The events continue throughout New York State until May 3, to coincide with spring cleaning and tax planning. 

Rep. John W. Mannion said, “Thank you to AARP for providing seniors and families a safe, secure way to dispose of sensitive documents while also equipping them with the tools to recognize scams and prevent identity theft. Protecting people’s personal information and financial security is essential, and I’m proud to support efforts that help our community stay informed, vigilant, and protected.” 

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State Senator Christopher J. Ryan (SD-50) said, "As scammers continue to target millions of Americans, it’s critical to provide accessible tools and resources to help protect our communities. Initiatives like these play a key role in giving individuals peace of mind and confidence in their financial security. I thank AARP for leading the way and empowering residents to defend themselves against fraud."

Assemblymember Pamela Hunter (AD-128) said, “Events like this are about more than shredding paper, they’re about protecting our neighbors and giving people peace of mind in an increasingly digital world. AARP continues to lead the way in helping our community stay safe from fraud.”

In addition to providing information and shredding events, AARP New York advocates for legislation to strengthen laws that will protect people over 60 from financial exploitation and hosts local year-round workshops, like the Money Mindset series. To sign up, visit aarp.org/NYStopScams. The next workshops are: 

Money Mindset: Financial & Emotional Impact of Fraud on Tuesday, April 21, 2 to 3 p.m.

Shredding events are held outdoors; some are walk-up, and some are drive-thru. All events will be open to the public. Visit aarp.org/NYStopScams for exact dates, times and locations. 

Those wishing to attend the shredding events must limit materials to three bags. The events conclude when the on-site trucks are full, but the sites may close early if trucks fill up. Paper only and no magazines, newspapers, books, or cardboard. Shredding services are free and open to the public.  

The shredding events are being conducted with support from the AARP Fraud Watch Network and the AARP Foundation.  

Here’s a spring-cleaning checklist from security experts to rid your home of paper with sensitive info:  

Old documents: Papers that carry your Social Security number, birthdate, signature, account numbers, passwords or PIN numbers.  
Banking: Canceled or unused checks. Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts  
Credit Cards: Preapproved credit card applications and incentive/gift checks from credit card companies. 
Medical: paid bills. 
Investments: Investment account statements. 
Obsolete ID cards: Expired driver’s licenses, medical insurance cards and passports.

More information on how to keep yourself safe from identity theft fraud, and alerts regarding other types of scams, is available from the Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork. AARP launched the Fraud Watch Network to arm Americans with proven tools to fight back against identity theft and scams. The AARP Fraud Watch Network equips people with reliable, up-to-date insights, and a free Fraud Network Helpline is available to help you and your loved ones.  

Connect with AARP New York on X: @AARPNY and Facebook: AARP New York 

About AARP 

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media. 

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Shredding services will be performed by a third party. All documents and information provided for shredding are subject to that party’s privacy and informational security policies. 