Amidst Housing Crisis, NYC Council Approves Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan That Will Deliver Over 10,000 New Homes

 

Today, the New York City Council approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, the largest residential neighborhood rezoning plan in two decades that is slated to create nearly 10,000 new housing units. The plan includes over $448 million in community and infrastructure investments for the Midtown South area. The Council also voted to pass legislation that would remove barriers to supportive housing, codify the City’s cooling center program, and improve the safety of child care centers.

“To confront the citywide housing and affordability crisis, our city must build more homes and invest in housing solutions that allow generations of New Yorkers to remain in this city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council is proud to approve the historic Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, as well as other housing projects, that will deliver over 10,000 new homes. The Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan will also invest nearly $488 million to preserve and support our city’s Garment District industries and help meet the needs of the surrounding communities. I thank my Council colleagues for their hard work and partnership to approve these rezonings that will benefit our communities for generations to come.”  

Approving the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan

Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) is the largest neighborhood, residential rezoning plan in two decades and will deliver more than 9,500 units of housing, over 2,800 of which will be permanently affordable, in Council Members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers’ districts. The Council secured over $448 million in community benefits and infrastructure improvements to the Midtown South area, including commitments for over $120 million in economic development resources to support the Garment District’s fashion and garment industry businesses. The neighborhood benefits also include: the preservation and advancement of the plan to establish a 34th Street car-free busway; completion of the Broadway Vision Plan to transform 21 blocks and create a car-free corridor on Broadway from 22nd to 25th Streets; street safety enhancements; subway station improvements; and critical investments for nearby schools, emergency medical services, and Bellevue Hospital.

BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON CONTINUES THE BRONX SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT BRONX PARK EAST

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, in partnership with the Bronx Tourism Council, the Bronx Economic Development Corporation (BXEDC), and the Business Initiative Corporation of New York (BICNY), continue the Bronx Summer Concert Series this Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Bronx Park East with an afternoon of live music, community celebration, and family-friendly fun.

This week's concert will feature performances by Nelson Gonzalez & The Latin All Stars, Nayibe La Gitana y La Tribu, Pito Paris & the Bad Boys of Salsa featuring Papote Jimenez, with music by Ralph Mercado and DJ C-LO. Bronx residents are invited to enjoy an afternoon of music, dancing, and cultural celebration at one of the borough's oldest parks.

WHAT: Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, in partnership with BXEDC and BICNY, will host the next Bronx Summer Concert Series performance at Bronx Park East. The free event will feature live music and entertainment open to residents of all ages. Community members are invited to spend the afternoon enjoying performances, dancing, and fellowship.

 

WHERE: Bronx Park East, Between Bronx Park East & Lydig Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467

 

WHEN: Sunday, August 17^th, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDES UPDATE ON COMMUNITY CLUSTER OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE IN CENTRAL HARLEM

 

Ninety-two cases have been identified in the area; three deaths have occurred

Twelve cooling towers have tested culture positive for live Legionella bacteria

Eleven of the twelve cooling towers have been remediated; the final tower is required to be completed by August 15

Today, the New York City Health Department provided an update on the investigation into a community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem (ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039). Ninety-two people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease since July 25 when the cluster was first identified. Three people have died, and 15 people are currently hospitalized. The NYC Health Department has confirmed that 12 cooling towers have tested culture positive in 10 buildings for live Legionella bacteria.  Eleven of the 12 cooling towers have completed remediation. The final cooling tower remediation is required to be completed tomorrow, August 15. These cooling towers are located at:  

• BRP Companies, Lafayette Development LLC, 2239 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd Manhattan, NY 10037   
• BVK, 215 W 125th St Manhattan, NY 10027 
• Commonwealth Local Development, 301 West 124th St, Manhattan, NY 10035  
• CUNY – City College Marshak Science Building, 181 Convent Ave, Manhattan, NY 10031  
• Harlem Center Condo, 317 Lenox Ave, Manhattan, NY 10030  
• NYC Economic Development Corporation, 40 West 137th St, Manhattan, NY 10037  
• NYC Health Department Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, 2238 5th Ave, Manhattan, NY 10030  
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, 506 Lenox Ave, Manhattan, NY 10037   
• The New York Hotel Trades Council Harlem Health Center,133 Morningside Ave, Manhattan, NY 10027 
• Wharton Properties, 100 W 125th St Manhattan, NY 10027 (3 of 8 towers) 

“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this cluster of Legionnaires, in particulate the friends and loved ones of the three New Yorkers we lost to this disease,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “As of today, 11 of the 12 cooling towers in Central Harlem that tested positive for Legionella bacteria have completed remediation, and by tomorrow, all towers will have completed remediations. New Yorkers should know the air is safe to breathe, and we are seeing declining numbers of new cases each day. I want to thank the health workers who worked tirelessly to treat this community and make sure its residents are healthy. We will continue to share updates, and we encourage anyone with flu-like symptoms to seek medical help immediately.” 

"As the city’s doctor, I want all New Yorkers to know this Legionnaires’ cluster in Central Harlem is the top priority of the New York City Health Department. We are working with the Mayor’s Office, Central Harlem elected officials, our community partners, and health care providers to ensure New Yorkers are fully informed of this evolving cluster," said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. "The good news is that new cases have begun to decline, which indicates that the sources of the bacteria have been contained. Our expert inspectors will continue to work with building owners to ensure full compliance. New Yorkers who live or work in the identified ZIP codes and have flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible for timely diagnosis and treatment for the best chance at a good outcome.”   

New Yorkers who live or work in one of the identified ZIP codes in Central Harlem with flu-like symptoms, cough, fever, or difficulty breathing should seek medical attention immediately. Individuals at higher risk include those ages 50 and above, cigarette smokers, and people with chronic lung disease or compromised immune systems. The risk is not increased for people who live or work in the buildings identified with positive culture tests. The risk is to anyone who spends time in the neighborhood because the bacteria travel outside the buildings into the surrounding area.  

The NYC Health Department has required building owners to conduct remediation to all the positive cooling towers, including initial PCR positive towers and confirmed culture positive towers. The NYC Health Department continues to analyze the cooling tower samples to try to identify if any of them were a source. 

PCR Positive vs Culture Positive 

At the start of the investigation, the NYC Health Department conducts a preliminary rapid PCR test to identify traces of the Legionella bacteria on all cooling towers in the investigation area. These bacteria may be alive or dead. Dead bacteria cannot make people sick. The NYC Health Department directs all towers with initial PCR positive results to remediate within 24 hours by adding or changing chemicals used to kill the bacteria in an effort to cut off the source or sources of the bacteria as fast as possible. 

The NYC Health Department’s Public Health Lab also conducts culture testing on all samples collected from all the cooling towers in the investigation area to detect any confirmed Legionella pneumophila growth. Culture testing takes two weeks to grow and is the gold standard as it detects the presence of Legionella bacteria that can cause illness. Where there are positive culture test results, the NYC Health Department requires owners to remediate the cooling tower by fully cleaning and disinfecting the whole cooling tower system. 

Determining The Source  

The NYC Health Department’s investigation on the source responsible for Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem is still underway. Our Public Health Lab experts are comparing the DNA in the cultures grown from the cooling towers to the DNA in the cultures from patients. Molecular analysis of Legionella bacteria from patients and cooling tower specimens will help the NYC Health Department determine a possible match.  

For more information, see the NYC Health Department’s Legionnaires’ Disease webpage. 

Governor Hochul Launches New Website for New York Parents and Students to Find Their School’s Policy for Smartphone Restrictions This Fall

 

State Law Requires Bell-to-Bell Restrictions on Smartphones and Other Internet-Enabled Personal Devices in K-12 Schools Statewide

New Yorkers Can Now Visit ny.gov/phonefree To Look Up Their School’s Policy

Website Includes Policies Published By More Than 1,050 Districts and Schools Across New York

Governor Kathy Hochul today launched a new website — ny.gov/phonefree — that enables New York parents and students to look up their school’s plan for implementing bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall. The website allows New Yorkers to search by district or school name among more than 1,050 public school districts, charter schools and BOCES that have already published their policy for the coming school year – representing around 96 percent of the approximately 1,090 total districts and schools covered by the statewide requirement. School administrators across the state are implementing these plans as part of Governor Hochul’s new law to require bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 schools statewide.

“Our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why schools across New York will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall,” Governor Hochul said. “As we look ahead to the start of the school year, communication is key – and our new online resource is making it easier for parents and students to review their school’s plan.”

The remaining districts and schools yet to finalize their policy are expected to in the coming days at upcoming school board meetings scheduled for August. The State’s online resource will continue to be updated when any additional policies are published and submitted.

The law enacted by Governor Hochul this year requires bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 school districts statewide, starting this fall for the 2025-26 school year. New York’s statewide standard includes:

• Prohibiting unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell-to-bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods
• Allowing schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students
• Securing $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free
• Requiring schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary
• Requiring teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy
• Preventing inequitable discipline

Governor Hochul’s policy allows authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.

Additionally, the Governor’s policy includes several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies.

California Couple Sentenced for Unlawful Multimillion-Dollar Trafficking Scheme Across U.S.-Mexico Border

 

Otilio Rodriguez Toledo and Alicia Aispuro Hernandez, husband and wife from Thermal, California, were sentenced today for conspiring to smuggle and distribute Mexican pesticides and veterinary drugs that are not approved for use in the United States. Toledo was sentenced to five months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release. Hernandez was sentenced to time served followed by 18 months of supervised release. Both were ordered to jointly pay $2.19 million in forfeiture.

“This case reflects our commitment to defend our southern border against those who traffic in unlawful substances that jeopardize the health and safety of Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who violate our environmental and customs laws, and we will ensure that they do not profit from their crimes.”   

“Selling illegal pesticides and veterinary drugs endangers people, animals, and the environment,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “Our office will continue to prosecute those individuals who disregard the dangerous consequences of their illegal smuggling.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the smuggling of unregistered pesticides. Defendants smuggled unregistered pesticides that are toxic to bees, and to humans,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management Cecil Rodrigues of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Defendants deliberately put people at risk for their own profit and are now being held accountable for their egregious actions.”

“The FDA regulates animal drugs as part of its mission to protect the public health, which includes ensuring that prescription animal drugs are lawfully distributed and dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Wade Moon of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations, Kansas City Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who distribute prescription animal drugs unlawfully.”

“There is a reason customs laws exist particularly when pesticides and chemicals are attempting to make their way into our country to potentially wreak havoc on our environment and potentially make people seriously ill,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson for HSI San Diego. “Success of this investigation is directly attributed to the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies working together to ensure uncommon illegal substance don’t make their way into our nation causing irrecoverable damage.”

According to filings and evidence presented in court, since at least December 2018, Toledo and Hernandez had engaged in smuggling pesticides and veterinary drugs from Mexico into the United States and then distributing them in the United States. The pesticides involved were primarily Taktic and Bovitraz, which are not registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in the United States. The smuggled veterinary drugs included Tetragent Aves, Metabolase, Terramicina, Cipio Vet, Baytril Max, Tylovet, Caterrol, Penicilina, and Tylosma, which are not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

The smuggled pesticides and veterinary drugs were brought into the United States through the Calexico Port of Entry in Imperial County, California, and placed in storage units near the border. Smugglers would then send photographs of the products at the storage units as proof of delivery. These defendants would then pick up the products from the storage units and distribute them to others within the United States.

According to the EPA, the active ingredient in the pesticides Taktic and Bovitraz is amitraz, which is toxic to bees if released into hives, and then ultimately to humans when it ends up in honey, honeycomb, and beeswax. Misuse of amitraz-containing products in beehives can result in exposures that could cause neurological effects and possibly reproductive effects in humans from the consumption of contaminated honey. Signs of neurotoxicity from exposure to amitraz have been documented in multiple animal species and include central nervous system depression, decrease in pulse rate, and hypothermia.

The EPA, FDA, and HSI investigated the case.

Tech Company CEO Charged With Securities And Wire Fraud After Gambling Away Seed Round Funding

 

Richard Kim Allegedly Misappropriated Approximately $4 Million of Startup Funds to Make Leveraged Cryptocurrency Trades and Gamble in an Online Casino

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging RICHARD KIM, the former Chief Executive Officer of Zero Edge Corporation (“Zero Edge”), with engaging in a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors of Zero Edge by making false and misleading statements regarding the use of investor funds and subsequently misappropriating those funds.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield. 

“As alleged, Richard Kim misled investors by promising that he would build a blockchain-based casino gaming app, but ironically Kim turned around and gambled away the very funds he said he would use to build a better casino,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Founders who abuse the trust of their investors threaten the integrity of our important and uniquely American venture capital market.” 

“Richard Kim allegedly misappropriated millions of investors’ dollars intended to develop his online casino company by redirecting these funds for personal gambling and trading ventures,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.  “Kim allegedly hedged his bets that false assurances would induce more investments and conceal the true nature of his spending. The FBI remains committed to apprehending any individual who leverages executive positions to defraud others for selfish purposes.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:[1]

KIM founded Zero Edge in March 2024, purporting to build an app-based casino using blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.  KIM represented to prospective investors that Zero Edge would develop on-chain games beginning with craps, and later offering roulette, baccarat, and blackjack.  KIM also represented to investors that their funds would be used to build the business and its technology.  Instead, KIM misappropriated the proceeds of the company’s seed round to make speculative cryptocurrency trades and gamble at an online casino.

Shortly after closing on the approximately $4.3 million seed financing round, KIM diverted approximately $3.8 million of investors’ funds first into a personal cryptocurrency account held at Coinbase and then sent approximately $1 million on to a variety of other crypto exchanges, including Binance, Kraken, and Backpack.  Between in or about June 21, 2024, and June 27, 2024, KIM made transfers of approximately $7 million, and net transfers of approximately $1 million, from Coinbase and Kraken to a personal account held at Shuffle.com, which advertises itself as a “VIP Crypto Casino and Sportsbook.”  KIM also directed a net sum of approximately $450,000 to other cryptocurrency wallets with unknown owners and transferred approximately $145,000 more from Kraken to a personal checking account.

In e-mails KIM later sent to investors, KIM admitted to misappropriating the investors’ funds, writing that he was “solely responsible for the loss of $3.67m of the Company’s balance sheet” following “leveraged trading losses from seed round financing proceeds” and that the company had lost nearly all its money.  But even as KIM admitted to some investors that he had misappropriated funds, he continued to conceal the true nature of his conduct, telling investors that he had lost the money as a result of a “treasury management strategy” rather than personal gambling.

At the time of his arrest, KIM admitted to the FBI that he knew what he did “was clearly wrong from the beginning” and “completely unjustifiable.”

KIM, 39, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents from the FBI.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a parallel civil action.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan T. Nees is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

NYS OASAS LAUNCHES NEW “TURN THE PAGE ON STIGMA” CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS STIGMA IN ADDICTION TREATMENT

 

Campaign Supports Ongoing Efforts by OASAS to Address Stigma and Help New Yorkers Access Treatment and Other Resources

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) today announced the launch of a new PSA campaign designed to address the stigma among addiction treatment. The “Turn the Page on Stigma” campaign will feature television PSAs, billboards, and online ads designed to educate people about the stigma related to addiction services. The goal is to emphasize that there is an individual behind the disease, and that they are not defined by their addiction.

“Stigma related to addiction, among both the people impacted by this disease and the treatment itself, is one of the most pressing issues we face,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “Addiction can affect anyone – including friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers - and it is vital that it is viewed like other chronic diseases, rather than a moral failing. We have done extensive work to address this issue across the state, and this campaign furthers our efforts to help educate individuals on addiction, and where they can find help and support.”

Stigma presents significant challenges for individuals with substance use and behavioral health issues. It can prevent people from seeking or staying in treatment, accessing vital services and supports, and cause them to feel ostracized, leading to social isolation. On a community level, stigma fuels pushback against new treatment facilities, limiting access to care.

The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released last month by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), indicated that stigma is still a concern for many people who choose not to seek treatment for substance use disorder. In that survey, more than 43% of people who did not receive treatment said their reasoning was because they were worried about what people would think or say, while more than 34% said they thought bad things would happen if others knew they were in treatment, such as losing their job, home, or children.

The "Turn the Page on Stigma" campaign reminds us that everyone has a story, and we shouldn’t judge. It empowers New Yorkers to identify and eliminate stigma through person-first language, reducing blame, and promoting acceptance and inclusion.

This new campaign is the latest in OASAS’s ongoing efforts to address stigma. In addition to previous educational resources, including podcasts and other media campaigns, OASAS has also focused on changing language in agency documents and on our website to foster inclusiveness. This includes a new stigma glossary that focuses on using person-first language, and emphasizing there is more to an individual than the disease of addiction.

The OASAS service system is also focused on delivering person-centered care, driven by an individual’s needs and addressing challenges related to stigma. This includes new services such as mobile medication units and additional Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) in underserved areas, as well as efforts to co-locate different types of treatment services in the same setting. These initiatives are designed to break down barriers that keep some people from seeking treatment, and to meet them where they are.

OASAS is also innovating care delivery by leveraging peer support. These individuals, who bring invaluable lived experiences in addiction and recovery, help to guide others through challenges and make connections to care. They play an important role in counteracting stigma against those impacted by addiction, and addiction services.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest systems of addiction services with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.

 

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found on the NYS OASAS website.

New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Addresses Rise in Account Takeover Incidents and Shares Tips to Help Prevent Fraud

 

New Yorkers Should Take Steps to Secure Their Digital Lives and Accounts 

Secretary Mosley: “Once a hacker gets into your banking, social media or email accounts, it can be a nightmare to recoup the losses. That’s why prevention is the first and best line of defense for consumers against these kinds of fraud”   

The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing tips on how to recognize and avoid account takeover fraud, a type of identity theft where scammers gain access to an individual’s online account by stealing login credentials. According to a June 2025 report from the Identity Theft Resource Center, account takeover incidents are on the rise. Additionally, as technology becomes more advanced, cyber-enabled fraud has become more prevalent and was involved in almost 83% of all financial losses reported to the FBI in 2024.

“Cyber-enabled fraud, including account takeovers, continues to evolve and target unsuspecting consumers, often with devastating financial consequences,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Once a hacker gets into your banking, social media or email accounts, it can be a nightmare to recoup the losses. That’s why prevention is the first and best line of defense for consumers against these kinds of fraud. I’m urging all New Yorkers to follow our tips so they can recognize scams, protect their accounts and take action quickly if fraud does occur.”

What is Account Takeover Fraud?

Account takeover fraud is a type of identity theft where a scammer gains access to someone’s online account by obtaining their login credentials and using those credentials to impersonate the account holder for fraudulent purposes. Account takeover can impact multiple types of accounts, including email accounts, bank accounts, credit card accounts, social media accounts, payment apps or any other online account. Once scammers gain access to an account, they can withdraw money, make purchases, transfer or redirect money, or open fraudulent lines of credit to access more money.  

Scammers use various methods to trick consumers so they can gain access to their accounts. Some of the common tactics include:

• Phishing: Scammers often impersonate organizations via email, calls, text or fake websites to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. Scammers may often call impersonating a bank representative, customer service professional, or tech support personnel asking for account login credentials. If a password has been exposed, but two factor authentication is in place, the impersonator will ask the victim to provide the one-time passcode in order to access the account.
• SIM Swapping: SIM swapping occurs when a scammer transfers a phone number to a SIM card that they control. This gives the scammer access to calls, texts and the victim’s security codes.
• Unusual links sent via email or text: Scammers often send deceptive links and offers of free downloads that hide malicious software created to steal passwords and record the keystrokes on devices, exposing personal information.
• Data breaches: Data breaches give scammers information that can allow them to access accounts belonging to others. In 2024, data breaches led to over $1.8 billion dollars in losses.
• Password guessing: Scammers use automated tools to guess weak passwords, especially if they are common or easy to guess.

Immediate Action Steps If Your Online Account Has Been Taken Over

Account takeover fraud can have devastating consequences for everyone involved, but there are immediate steps you should take if you believe your online account has been compromised.

• Change your password as soon as you become aware of unauthorized activity or a data breach: If you still have access, update the credentials for the affected account. Update credentials for any other accounts that use similar information. If your email access is impacted, contact your email provider so they can issue a temporary password. Depending on the severity, you may consider closing and starting a new account.
• Assess all online accounts: Check if your other online accounts have been affected, especially those with the same password. According to Experian, criminals can attempt to access other accounts by “credential stuffing,” where the exposed login credentials are used to log in to other accounts.
• Update security questions: Change your security questions and answers to prevent further unauthorized access.
• If your bank account was compromised, notify your financial institution right away: Report the fraud and initiate preventative measures.
• If your email or social media account was compromised, notify your contacts: Inform your contacts about the account takeover and advise them to be cautious of any suspicious emails or social media messages. This includes answering personal questions, clicking on links, or downloading software.
• Report the fraud: You can report scams and suspicious communications to the Federal Trade Commission. You can also report confirmed cases of identity theft to identitytheft.gov. The information you report allows law enforcement to track trends and investigate threats.
• Monitor your accounts and credit reports:
  • You can get a copy of your credit report every week for free from the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and Transunion. Go to annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228 to check all three credit bureaus for free.
  • Regularly check your bank and credit card billing statements for fraudulent charges. If you spot something suspicious or unusual, report it to your credit card or financial company immediately.
• Consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit:  
• A fraud alert will notify lenders processing a credit application in your name that they need to conduct additional identity verification. It is free to do, and you only need to contact one of the three credit bureaus. A fraud alert will stay on your credit for 1 year but can be renewed. If you are the victim of identity theft, you qualify for an extended fraud alert which lasts for 7 years.
• A security freeze blocks all access to your credit report. To place a free security freeze on your credit report, you will need to contact each of the three credit bureaus. A security freeze lasts indefinitely or until you choose to unfreeze it. You can also unfreeze, or “thaw,” your credit report temporarily to allow a lender, insurance company or other entity access to your credit report for only a set period of time, after which your credit report automatically refreezes.

Proactive Tips to Help Prevent Account Takeover Fraud

There are also proactive steps you can take to protect yourself from account takeover incidents and alert yourself to potential fraudulent activity on your accounts.

• Secure your accounts:
  • Review account settings: Verify that your account settings, such as recovery email and phone number, are secure and up to date.
  • Check for forwarding rules: Ensure that no forwarding rules have been set up to redirect your emails to an unknown address.
  • Review the last log-in time: AARP recommends periodically reviewing the “last log-in” time stamp on sites you visit to ensure the time matches your activity. Don’t ignore password change notifications. Lastly, contact your financial institutions to implement security measures such as automated SMS messages about transactions.
• Protect your devices: Don’t click on free downloads from pop up ads, don’t auto save passwords on your computer, and don’t click on links from unverified sources. In addition, call back any business or agency that unexpectedly calls by dialing their official number.
• Bookmark or save verified sites: Avoid using search engines to find frequently used websites.
• Protect your accounts:
  • Create different passwords for each account to prevent one account takeover incident from compromising several accounts or use a password manager.
  • Create unique, complex passwords that have a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters to make it harder to guess.
  • Change passwords regularly.
  • Add additional security measures including enabling biometric authentication methods such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, X and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.