Lance's Corner

NYSDOS Issues Alert on Payment Apps

Jul 29, 2025

Per the notice below, the New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) has issued an alert on exercising care with the use of payment apps.

With the Rise in Use of Digital Payment Apps, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Provides Tips to Protect Your Money

Payment Apps May Be Convenient for Consumers, But Attractive for Scammers

Over $390 Million in Losses Reported in 2024

Follow These Tips to Keep Your Money and Financial Information Safe When Using Payment Apps

The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing consumers with tips to protect their money and financial information while using payment apps.  Payment apps, including Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and others, allow consumers to instantly transfer money to friends and family members with a click of a button on their mobile device.  However, many payment app users have been tricked into sending money to a scammer or have had their accounts hacked.  In 2024, consumers nationwide reported over $390 million in losses to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission from scams that used payment apps or services.  This is over $100 million more than consumers reported losing in 2023.

“We’ve all been in a situation where a friend picks up lunch and says, ‘Just send it to me later through this app!’  While many payment apps are convenient and often cheaper than using an ATM, they can also come with risks.” said NYS Secretary of State Walter Mosley.  “Scammers are finding new ways to exploit these payment apps every day, so if you do choose to use them, make sure you follow these tips from our Consumer Protection division to keep your personal and financial information safe.”

What You Need to Know About Payment Apps:

  • Payment apps are attractive for scammers: Payment apps offer convenience, as consumers can easily make instant payment transfers or transactions at any time or anywhere.  This makes it convenient for scammers who use various tricks to conceal their tracks.
    • Scammers may trick consumers into sending them money, often by using fake profiles, such as pretending to be a loved one who’s in trouble and asking for money.
    • Others may impersonate companies offering sweepstakes or prize winnings but claim a fee needs to be paid to collect it.
    • Others might use "accidental" transfer scams, where they send money from a stolen credit card and then ask for it back.
  • Payment app companies aren’t required to recover funds lost to fraud: Consumers who pay by credit card are protected by federal law and never liable for more than $50 lost to fraud or payments made in error.  Payment apps aren’t required to recover money sent to scammers or in error.  Fraud victims who use payment apps are rarely able to recover lost funds.
  • Payment apps often don’t have federal deposit insurance: Federal deposit insurance protects consumers’ money in case a bank goes out of business or loses consumers’ money in bad investments.  However, most payment apps are non-bank companies which are not FDIC-insured.

Five Tips to Use Payment Apps Securely:

  1. Don’t leave large amounts of money in payment apps: Regularly transfer your payment app balance into a traditional checking account which has greater legal protections for your money.
  2. Only send money to people you know and trust: Never let somebody you haven’t met pressure you into sending money.  Sending money through payment apps is a lot like paying cash.  Once it’s gone, it’s gone.  Even when you know the person, always double check that you’re sending the right amount of money to the right account.
  3. Avoid linking to your entire bank account: Many payment apps encourage consumers to link their bank’s account and routing numbers to the app.  This can leave your entire bank account vulnerable in hacking attempts.  Linking to a credit card instead can be more secure.
  4. Set your account to private: Some payment apps set account privacy settings to “public” as the default — meaning anybody on the app can see your transactions.  Check your security settings and use the most private settings whenever possible.
  5. Use strong security features and settings: Utilize features like fingerprint or facial recognition for transactions.  Regularly update your payment app to ensure you have the latest security patches and features.

How to File a Complaint

If you believe you made a payment to a scammer or find unauthorized payments on your account, report it to the mobile payment app and any bank involved.  You can also report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

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 dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.  The Division can also be reached via X at @NYSConsumer or Facebook.

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc