Study: Few New Yorkers Fall For Scams

New Yorkers are some of the least likely people in the country to fall victim to scams. Though local con artists continue to try to pull off the "broken glasses scam," the "broken bottle scam," and the "I need an insulin shot scam," New York City wasn't one of the top 50 places nationwide where residents have complained of scams or identity theft.

A Federal Trade Commission study reveals that con men scammed more than 1.3 million Americans, forcing consumers to pay a reported $1.7 billion in false charges. While New Yorkers fared well, residents of Mount Vernon-Anacotes—a Washington State region with 116,000 inhabitants—were found to be the country's easiest marks, according to the Daily News. "New Yorkers are smarter and more cynical than most; that's the only explanation I can give you," said Leonard Gordon, a regional FTC commissioner. "And we don't know why Mount Vernon-Anacotes was No. 1."

Researchers say some of the most common scams involve fake prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries where victims "pay an entry and get nothing in return." Also common are work-at-home or fee-for-employment hustles. "They say, 'Send us $100 or $200 and we'll get you a job.' Or 'Send us money for this at-home employment' and of course there's no job," said Gordon.

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By Ben Muessig in News on March 9, 2010 11:52 AM

Comments [rss]

cheezywhiz

I had a guy stupidly run into me today on 13th between 3rd and 2nd Ave. I turned around and saw him pick up glasses with one of the lenses broken. He accused me of breaking them. He was not aggressive, but told me he had no insurance, tried to play up to my sympathy.

I didn't buy it. They looked like cheap drug store reading glasses. He was also on the phone when it happened and after the collision, he hung up without even saying anything to the person on the other end. I've read that these guys often have accomplices, so I guess that could have been someone telling him when to abruptly merge into traffic.

I feel bad for the guy if it wasn't a scam, but it truly was his fault.

bagelman

i'll admit it. i've fallen for a few scams in NYC: rent, MTA, job.

resa

A popular one targeting tourists in this area: - A bunch of young, polite, articulate, yada yada guys claim to be in some MTV competition and ask for a "donation" while giving away cd's. The one who raises the most money wins.

I think that all of the ingenuity it takes to package & shrink wrap up a blank scratched old cd with a nice cover could probably be put to better use but maybe that's just me.

FDTW

Guy tried a variation on the medicine bottle on my friend outside of an NYU dorm two years ago. Bumped into him on the corner and dropped a little baggie of white powder that spilled, told my friend it was $60 worth of coke and he had to pay him back for it. My friend gave him his NYU ID as "collateral" (just a name and a picture, no address) and told the guy he was going inside to use the ATM. We just waited inside, eventually he tried to come in, the guard told him to fuck off, and we never saw him again.

themercenary

The city in Washington state is Anacortes, not Anacotes. I lived in Seattle and the fact that the geezers up there get scammed doesn't surprise me a bit.

Think2wice

This is one of the badges of honor for putting up with this city. Country folk may understand the wild, but city folk understand human-nature.

RevWaldo

I'd say most New Yorkers fall into the "once bitten, twice shy" category. Lesson learned: If it involves a stranger that approached you and cash, it's a scam.

Snoopy

Bring back the old days with the three card Monte and the shell games on the streets.

Think2wice

I could *never* understand how grown people could fall for three card Monte and the shell games. I was five, fresh off the plane from India, and even I knew that this had to be a scam.

detective jarvis

shut up

Spirit of 76

New Yorkers fell for Bernie Madoff, didn't they? A lot of them are not as savvy as they think.

Think2wice

That's one thing New Yorkers (indeed even the truly skeptical people) fall for, the myth of tribal or ethnic solidarity/loyalty. Most of Madoff's victims were Jews and/or of the same social strata. Likewise with the douchey stock trader who cheated his own family.

Wza

Except for politics, I can say this sounds about right.

JacqueMehoff

before I moved out of my old neighborhood there was this guy who did the "don't I know you from HS, Jr. HS...?" scam. yeah, you knew me, I was the guy trying to learn and you were the guys sleeping in the back.

Rocknrope

I feel for a scam on the street once about 15 years ago. This tall, smart-looking guy came up and said that he lost his wallet, that he was visiting here, and he needed $20 to get back to Boston. He wrote down his number and address on a piece of paper for me to show he was legit. As it was happening, I knew I was being scammed, but for the life of me I don't know why I went through with it. I later tried to call the number, and of course, it was non-working.

Someone also tried to pull the "you knocked my lunch out of my hand" grift on me, but I wasn't dumb enough for that one.

SighR

I had this happen to me too. but I'm kind of a dick and said "Give me your I.D. and I'll mail it back to you when you send me the $20.00" He got pissed and walked off.

Rocknrope

feel = fell, natch.

And Gothamist, turn the checkbox for email notices off again, prease.

Spirit of 76

It comes and goes. I think the plugin is just so badly written that it makes its own decision according to the tides. If it were me, I'd uninstall it entirely. I doubt anyone actually uses it.