We see this more and more in New York. Someone becomes a victim of identity theft and we think that it won't happen to us...until it does.

According to the Identity Theft Risk by State report, the Empire State finds itself in the middle of the pack when it comes to identity theft.. New York grabbed the 33rd spot, with a score of 36.41 out of 100. We may not be the riskiest state but we still need to keep our guard up and protect our identities.

Reports Take a Dip

In 2023, the number of reported identity theft cases in New York actually went down. We saw over a 15% decrease from the previous year, with 256 reported cases per 100,000 residents. Apparently our efforts to slow down this sneaky crime is working.

Stay One Step Ahead

The numbers are heading in the right direction, but it's still important to stay alert and keep our personal information safe. Keep an eye on your financial accounts for unexpected activity and be smart about your online habits by using strong passwords for your online accounts. Be careful about sharing your personal information on the internet or over the phone.

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Extra Protection? Yes, Please!

If you really want to do everything you can to stay safe, there are services out there designed to help protect against identity theft. They have an extra layer of security to keep our info under a virtual lock and key. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Knowledge is Power

When it comes to identity theft, staying informed is half the battle. Keep yourself in the know by checking resources like the Identity Theft Risk by State report. Knowing what to look for and understanding the risks we face, are the best steps toward protecting ourselves.

12 Signs That You Could Be a Victim of Identity Theft

Identity theft can happen so quickly, and potentially take so long to resolve. Keep an eye out for these 12 warning signs and maybe you can limit the damage done to your credit and your life.

Gallery Credit: Cindy Campbell

Ranking States with Most Online Scams

Here's a state-by-state look, using data available from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), ranking states by total amount of money lost to fraud.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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