If you’ve ever gotten that sinking feeling after realizing you’ve been duped by a scam, you’re far from alone.
Over the past five years, scammers have gotten more sophisticated, bolder, and far more expensive. From bogus investment schemes to online shopping scams, fraud in America is hitting harder than ever before.
Our team analyzed five years’ worth of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fraud reports and complaint data to find out which American states are losing the most money to scams. So which states are losing the most, and which are managing to minimize the damage?
The Most Defrauded States
- California ($14,279,201 lost per 100,000 people)
The Golden State tops the list - and not in a good way. Despite just a 17.7% rise in report count between 2020 and 2024, financial losses exploded by 319%, suggesting that scammers are targeting fewer people but with much higher stakes. Whether it’s fake crypto investments or fraudulent online retailers, Californians are being hit hard.
- Nevada ($13,320,409 lost per 100,000 people)
Las Vegas isn’t the only place where people are losing money in Nevada. With nearly three times more reports than Hawaii, Nevada’s residents are clearly being flooded with scams. Yet the high dollar loss also suggests many of these scams are highly effective and costly.
- Hawaii ($12,466,381 lost per 100,000 people)
Hawaii might seem like paradise, but it’s no escape from scammers. With similar losses per person to Nevada but with far fewer reports, there’s strong evidence of underreporting, meaning the real scope of fraud could be even worse. Still, reports increased 20% from 2020 to 2024, so awareness may be growing.
- Arizona ($12,343,738 lost per 100,000 people)
Arizona’s fraud losses have skyrocketed, with a 28.5% increase in reports in just five years. Spam calls related to Medicare scams have been a particular problem in Arizona often targeting retirees and older residents with over 1.5 million people eligible for Medicare in the state. Scammers in the Grand Canyon State are finding plenty of victims and it’s costing residents millions.
- Washington ($12,120,517 lost per 100,000 people)
Known as The Evergreen State for its lush, forested landscapes, Washington isn’t just battling wild weather - it’s also battling a growing fraud problem. Scammers have increasingly set their sights here with over $12.1 million lost per 100,000 people.
- Alaska ($11,195,787 lost per 100,000 people)
Despite being The Last Frontier, Alaska is proving to be anything but off-limits for scammers. Its remote geography and smaller population haven't shielded residents from fraud. High-dollar scams, often involving impersonation and online fraud, have pushed Alaska into one of the top spots for per person losses.
- Florida ($11,063,438 lost per 100,000 people)
The Sunshine State is shining a little less brightly thanks to a deluge of fraud. Florida has long been a hotspot for scams, and 2024 is no different. With more than $11 million lost per 100,000 residents, it’s clear that Florida continues to be a favourite hunting ground for fraudsters.
- Colorado ($10,943,422 lost per 100,000 people)
With a 26.9% rise in reports over five years, Colorado is feeling the sting of fraud. Residents in urban areas like Denver have reported a wave of scam activity, including business imposters and online shopping fraud.
- New Jersey ($10,426,007 lost per 100,000 people)
The Garden State may be known for its produce, but it’s also yielding some alarming fraud figures. New Jersey experienced a staggering 342% increase in total fraud losses from 2020 to 2024, even as reports rose only modestly. That means scammers are getting more out of each victim and using fewer attempts to inflict greater financial damage.
- Maryland ($10,395,758 lost per 100,000 people)
Maryland rounds out the top ten with nearly $10.4 million lost per 100,000 people. The state has seen rising threats with scammers frequently impersonating trusted companies to con residents out of their money.
Why Are These States Hit the Hardest?
While fraud is a national issue, certain states appear to be disproportionately affected. Factors like population density, median income, digital access, and the number of retirees can influence both scam types and effectiveness.
States like California and New Jersey show that fraud is becoming more expensive, not necessarily more frequent as scammers are learning to maximize their take with fewer victims. Meanwhile, smaller states like Alaska and Hawaii may experience high losses due to a mix of limited resources and underreporting.
Where does your state rank?
Which States are Losing the Least to Scammers
- Mississippi ($4,716,720 lost per 100,000 people)
- Kentucky ($4,824,398 lost per 100,000 people)
- Iowa ($5,023,543 lost per 100,000 people)
- Indiana ($5,035,659 lost per 100,000 people)
- West Virginia ($5,087,451 lost per 100,000 people)
- Arkansas ($5,095,764 lost per 100,000 people)
- Louisiana ($5,407,371 lost per 100,000 people)
- Ohio ($5,553,144 lost per 100,000 people)
- Oklahoma ($5,663,870 lost per 100,000 people)
- Kansas ($5,844,642 lost per 100,000 people)
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself from Fraud?
Even in high-risk states, there are ways to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of fraud:
- Don’t trust unsolicited messages, emails, or calls.
- Be suspicious of “too good to be true” investment or prize offers.
- Never send money or personal information to unknown sources.
- Use multi-factor authentication on accounts.
- Report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Methodology
Textla analyzed over 9 million reports to federal agencies from 2020 - 2024, to establish which states are losing the most to fraudsters.
Population of each state was taken from 2024 US Government Census data.
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