States scammed out of the most money
Canva
States scammed out of the most money
A dark view of downtown Phoenix, AZ.
Maybe it was the idea of getting rich in a brand-new investment scheme that got you; maybe it was hearing that your grandson was stuck in jail and needed $2,000 wired to him. (Spoiler alert: It wasn’t really your grandson.) Whatever scam fooled you into opening up your wallet, you’re not alone: The Federal Trade Commission in 2021 received more than 5.7 million reports, including nearly 2.8 million reports of fraud and 1.4 reports of identity theft.
The uptick in scams is partly attributed to an increase in online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Online shopping and negative reviews” was the second-highest type of scam reported after imposter scams.
In addition to being embarrassing for their victims, scams can also be incredibly costly. In 2021, American consumers lost more than $5.8 billion to fraud. Young people between the ages of 20 and 29 reported losing money to fraud more often than older consumers, although the latter suffered more median losses per scam.
Stacker looked at which states were impacted most by scams in 2021 and the amount of money reported as lost using data from the Federal Trade Commission. This list includes all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. Locations were ranked by the number of reports filed per 100,000 residents.
You may also like: Retirement scams to watch out for
Canva
#52. Puerto Rico
The city of San Juan on the coast.
– Reports per 100K people: 260
– Total reports: 8,315
– Total loss: $6,689,197
– Median loss: $508
Canva
#51. South Dakota
Historic buildings and businesses in Deadwood.
– Reports per 100K people: 549
– Total reports: 4,854
– Total loss: $6,828,535
– Median loss: $489
Canva
#50. North Dakota
Historic main street in Grand Forks.
– Reports per 100K people: 608
– Total reports: 4,637
– Total loss: $8,897,094
– Median loss: $440
Canva
#49. Iowa
Colorful hot air balloons taking off and landing in a field.
– Reports per 100K people: 636
– Total reports: 20,071
– Total loss: $21,219,834
– Median loss: $379
Canva
#48. Nebraska
An aerial view of downtown Omaha.
– Reports per 100K people: 697
– Total reports: 13,475
– Total loss: $14,314,521
– Median loss: $450
Canva
#47. Wyoming
A large arch made with antlers in Jackson Hole.
– Reports per 100K people: 731
– Total reports: 4,230
– Total loss: $7,751,648
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#46. Oklahoma
Aerial view of homes in Oklahoma City.
– Reports per 100K people: 783
– Total reports: 30,996
– Total loss: $26,906,284
– Median loss: $410
Canva
#45. Kentucky
Lexington skyline.
– Reports per 100K people: 796
– Total reports: 35,544
– Total loss: $30,598,771
– Median loss: $350
Canva
#44. West Virginia
Aerial view of a waterway going through Morgantown.
– Reports per 100K people: 797
– Total reports: 14,287
– Total loss: $10,206,786
– Median loss: $350
Canva
#43. Arkansas
Historic buildings in Fayetteville.
– Reports per 100K people: 801
– Total reports: 24,176
– Total loss: $16,692,589
– Median loss: $450
Canva
#42. Wisconsin
Homes and boats in Bayfield.
– Reports per 100K people: 803
– Total reports: 46,755
– Total loss: $48,716,758
– Median loss: $390
Canva
#41. Montana
Aerial view of Missoula from the mountains.
– Reports per 100K people: 806
– Total reports: 8,612
– Total loss: $9,582,342
– Median loss: $436
Canva
#40. Minnesota
A large ornate brick building, a church and other small businesses on a street in Mankato.
– Reports per 100K people: 809
– Total reports: 45,599
– Total loss: $60,317,592
– Median loss: $482
Canva
#39. Idaho
An aerial view of Boise sandwiched between a river and some hills.
– Reports per 100K people: 809
– Total reports: 14,464
– Total loss: $16,949,046
– Median loss: $396
Canva
#38. Maine
White adirondack chairs overlooking the harbor in Maine.
– Reports per 100K people: 821
– Total reports: 11,035
– Total loss: $9,708,190
– Median loss: $400
Canva
#37. Utah
Aerial view of downtown Salt Lake City.
– Reports per 100K people: 823
– Total reports: 26,373
– Total loss: $37,346,855
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#36. Kansas
Wichita skyline.
– Reports per 100K people: 845
– Total reports: 24,615
– Total loss: $19,916,988
– Median loss: $429
Canva
#35. Vermont
Colorful two story homes in Vermont.
– Reports per 100K people: 848
– Total reports: 5,292
– Total loss: $10,038,458
– Median loss: $337
Canva
#34. Hawaii
Surfers heading to the ocean.
– Reports per 100K people: 851
– Total reports: 12,051
– Total loss: $22,502,406
– Median loss: $620
Canva
#33. Indiana
Aerial view of college campus.
– Reports per 100K people: 861
– Total reports: 57,988
– Total loss: $46,881,596
– Median loss: $400
Canva
#32. Michigan
Downtown Detroit from across the river.
– Reports per 100K people: 881
– Total reports: 87,996
– Total loss: $83,309,393
– Median loss: $400
Canva
#31. New Mexico
Las Cruces with mountains in the background.
– Reports per 100K people: 888
– Total reports: 18,613
– Total loss: $23,200,453
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#30. Mississippi
Downtown Jackson in the evening.
– Reports per 100K people: 906
– Total reports: 26,958
– Total loss: $23,422,036
– Median loss: $400
Canva
#29. New Hampshire
Homes and boats on the water in Portsmouth.
– Reports per 100K people: 914
– Total reports: 12,429
– Total loss: $13,660,810
– Median loss: $450
Canva
#28. Connecticut
Historic buildings and churches in New Britain.
– Reports per 100K people: 917
– Total reports: 32,686
– Total loss: $40,886,958
– Median loss: $460
Canva
#27. Missouri
Homes nestled in the trees in Branson.
– Reports per 100K people: 953
– Total reports: 58,485
– Total loss: $52,266,861
– Median loss: $361
Canva
#26. Oregon
Downtown Portland from a footbridge across the water.
– Reports per 100K people: 970
– Total reports: 40,908
– Total loss: $65,371,881
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#25. Ohio
Cincinnati skyline and bridge in foreground.
– Reports per 100K people: 976
– Total reports: 114,140
– Total loss: $86,270,313
– Median loss: $375
Canva
#24. Massachusetts
Aerial view of homes surrounded by colorful fall trees.
– Reports per 100K people: 980
– Total reports: 67,515
– Total loss: $91,319,599
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#23. California
A bustling street in Hollywood.
– Reports per 100K people: 991
– Total reports: 391,517
– Total loss: $820,858,149
– Median loss: $600
Canva
#22. Washington
Homes on the water in Tacoma with mountains in the background.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,013
– Total reports: 77,128
– Total loss: $135,661,564
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#21. North Carolina
Aerial view of downtown Wilmington with a bridge in the distance.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,036
– Total reports: 108,698
– Total loss: $93,015,171
– Median loss: $446
Canva
#20. Arizona
Palm tree-lined street in downtown Phoenix.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,065
– Total reports: 77,534
– Total loss: $116,030,737
– Median loss: $515
Canva
#19. Rhode Island
Homes and a red boat on the water.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,066
– Total reports: 11,289
– Total loss: $11,564,650
– Median loss: $447
Canva
#18. Illinois
Chicago skyline at sunset.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,078
– Total reports: 136,640
– Total loss: $128,953,942
– Median loss: $450
Canva
#17. Texas
A bridge over Austin and downtown in the background.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,080
– Total reports: 313,044
– Total loss: $369,437,769
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#16. New York
Downtown New York City skyline.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,083
– Total reports: 210,749
– Total loss: $280,882,468
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#15. Virginia
Historic row homes in Portsmouth.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,099
– Total reports: 93,763
– Total loss: $112,898,996
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#14. New Jersey
Aerial cityscape of homes in Dover.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,107
– Total reports: 98,316
– Total loss: $122,175,462
– Median loss: $508
Canva
#13. Colorado
Aerial view of Aspen at night with huge mountains in the background.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,119
– Total reports: 64,464
– Total loss: $87,975,013
– Median loss: $479
Canva
#12. South Carolina
A long line of chairs and umbrellas on the beach.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,149
– Total reports: 59,177
– Total loss: $46,428,921
– Median loss: $400
Canva
#11. Alaska
Colorful homes and a long pier on the water.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,156
– Total reports: 8,458
– Total loss: $13,078,284
– Median loss: $600
Canva
#10. Tennessee
Aerial view of Downtown Gatlinburg in a green valley.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,157
– Total reports: 79,012
– Total loss: $62,602,651
– Median loss: $400
Canva
#9. Louisiana
A busy downtown New Orleans in the evening.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,193
– Total reports: 55,456
– Total loss: $30,022,528
– Median loss: $422
Canva
#8. Pennsylvania
Downtown Philadelphia skyline.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,205
– Total reports: 154,313
– Total loss: $120,888,991
– Median loss: $400
Canva
#7. Alabama
Aerial view of downtown Mobile.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,217
– Total reports: 59,669
– Total loss: $44,712,880
– Median loss: $423
Canva
#6. Florida
Drone view of umbrellas on the beach and street in Fort Lauderdale.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,370
– Total reports: 294,328
– Total loss: $331,282,322
– Median loss: $532
Canva
#5. Nevada
Bright neon lights at the entrance to Reno.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,407
– Total reports: 43,339
– Total loss: $69,551,003
– Median loss: $616
Canva
#4. Delaware
Downtown Wilmington on the river.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,410
– Total reports: 13,726
– Total loss: $14,135,903
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#3. Maryland
Aerial view of Annapolis on the water.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,415
– Total reports: 85,568
– Total loss: $93,976,802
– Median loss: $518
Canva
#2. Georgia
Aerial view of historic downtown Macon.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,421
– Total reports: 150,898
– Total loss: $112,980,173
– Median loss: $500
Canva
#1. Washington DC
Washington D.C. city skyline.
– Reports per 100K people: 1,701
– Total reports: 12,004
– Total loss: $10,207,425
– Median loss: $500
