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Business & Economy

States scammed out of the most money

Written by:
Annalise Mantz
November 23, 2022
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States scammed out of the most money

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.

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The city of San Juan on the coast.
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#52. Puerto Rico

- Reports per 100K people: 260
- Total reports: 8,315
- Total loss: $6,689,197
- Median loss: $508

Historic buildings and businesses in Deadwood.
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#51. South Dakota

- Reports per 100K people: 549
- Total reports: 4,854
- Total loss: $6,828,535
- Median loss: $489

Historic main street in Grand Forks.
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#50. North Dakota

- Reports per 100K people: 608
- Total reports: 4,637
- Total loss: $8,897,094
- Median loss: $440

Colorful hot air balloons taking off and landing in a field.
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#49. Iowa

- Reports per 100K people: 636
- Total reports: 20,071
- Total loss: $21,219,834
- Median loss: $379

An aerial view of downtown Omaha.
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#48. Nebraska

- Reports per 100K people: 697
- Total reports: 13,475
- Total loss: $14,314,521
- Median loss: $450

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A large arch made with antlers in Jackson Hole.
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#47. Wyoming

- Reports per 100K people: 731
- Total reports: 4,230
- Total loss: $7,751,648
- Median loss: $500

Aerial view of homes in Oklahoma City.
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#46. Oklahoma

- Reports per 100K people: 783
- Total reports: 30,996
- Total loss: $26,906,284
- Median loss: $410

Lexington skyline.
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#45. Kentucky

- Reports per 100K people: 796
- Total reports: 35,544
- Total loss: $30,598,771
- Median loss: $350

Aerial view of a waterway going through Morgantown.
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#44. West Virginia

- Reports per 100K people: 797
- Total reports: 14,287
- Total loss: $10,206,786
- Median loss: $350

Historic buildings in Fayetteville.
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#43. Arkansas

- Reports per 100K people: 801
- Total reports: 24,176
- Total loss: $16,692,589
- Median loss: $450

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Homes and boats in Bayfield.
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#42. Wisconsin

- Reports per 100K people: 803
- Total reports: 46,755
- Total loss: $48,716,758
- Median loss: $390

Aerial view of Missoula from the mountains.
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#41. Montana

- Reports per 100K people: 806
- Total reports: 8,612
- Total loss: $9,582,342
- Median loss: $436

A large ornate brick building, a church and other small businesses on a street in Mankato.
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#40. Minnesota

- Reports per 100K people: 809
- Total reports: 45,599
- Total loss: $60,317,592
- Median loss: $482

An aerial view of Boise sandwiched between a river and some hills.
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#39. Idaho

- Reports per 100K people: 809
- Total reports: 14,464
- Total loss: $16,949,046
- Median loss: $396

White adirondack chairs overlooking the harbor in Maine.
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#38. Maine

- Reports per 100K people: 821
- Total reports: 11,035
- Total loss: $9,708,190
- Median loss: $400

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Aerial view of downtown Salt Lake City.
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#37. Utah

- Reports per 100K people: 823
- Total reports: 26,373
- Total loss: $37,346,855
- Median loss: $500

Wichita skyline.
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#36. Kansas

- Reports per 100K people: 845
- Total reports: 24,615
- Total loss: $19,916,988
- Median loss: $429

Colorful two story homes in Vermont.
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#35. Vermont

- Reports per 100K people: 848
- Total reports: 5,292
- Total loss: $10,038,458
- Median loss: $337

Surfers heading to the ocean.
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#34. Hawaii

- Reports per 100K people: 851
- Total reports: 12,051
- Total loss: $22,502,406
- Median loss: $620

Aerial view of college campus.
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#33. Indiana

- Reports per 100K people: 861
- Total reports: 57,988
- Total loss: $46,881,596
- Median loss: $400

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Downtown Detroit from across the river.
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#32. Michigan

- Reports per 100K people: 881
- Total reports: 87,996
- Total loss: $83,309,393
- Median loss: $400

Las Cruces with mountains in the background.
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#31. New Mexico

- Reports per 100K people: 888
- Total reports: 18,613
- Total loss: $23,200,453
- Median loss: $500

Downtown Jackson in the evening.
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#30. Mississippi

- Reports per 100K people: 906
- Total reports: 26,958
- Total loss: $23,422,036
- Median loss: $400

Homes and boats on the water in Portsmouth.
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#29. New Hampshire

- Reports per 100K people: 914
- Total reports: 12,429
- Total loss: $13,660,810
- Median loss: $450

Historic buildings and churches in New Britain.
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#28. Connecticut

- Reports per 100K people: 917
- Total reports: 32,686
- Total loss: $40,886,958
- Median loss: $460

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Homes nestled in the trees in Branson.
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#27. Missouri

- Reports per 100K people: 953
- Total reports: 58,485
- Total loss: $52,266,861
- Median loss: $361

Downtown Portland from a footbridge across the water.
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#26. Oregon

- Reports per 100K people: 970
- Total reports: 40,908
- Total loss: $65,371,881
- Median loss: $500

Cincinnati skyline and bridge in foreground.
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#25. Ohio

- Reports per 100K people: 976
- Total reports: 114,140
- Total loss: $86,270,313
- Median loss: $375

Aerial view of homes surrounded by colorful fall trees.
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#24. Massachusetts

- Reports per 100K people: 980
- Total reports: 67,515
- Total loss: $91,319,599
- Median loss: $500

A bustling street in Hollywood.
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#23. California

- Reports per 100K people: 991
- Total reports: 391,517
- Total loss: $820,858,149
- Median loss: $600

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Homes on the water in Tacoma with mountains in the background.
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#22. Washington

- Reports per 100K people: 1,013
- Total reports: 77,128
- Total loss: $135,661,564
- Median loss: $500

Aerial view of downtown Wilmington with a bridge in the distance.
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#21. North Carolina

- Reports per 100K people: 1,036
- Total reports: 108,698
- Total loss: $93,015,171
- Median loss: $446

Palm tree-lined street in downtown Phoenix.
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#20. Arizona

- Reports per 100K people: 1,065
- Total reports: 77,534
- Total loss: $116,030,737
- Median loss: $515

Homes and a red boat on the water.
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#19. Rhode Island

- Reports per 100K people: 1,066
- Total reports: 11,289
- Total loss: $11,564,650
- Median loss: $447

Chicago skyline at sunset.
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#18. Illinois

- Reports per 100K people: 1,078
- Total reports: 136,640
- Total loss: $128,953,942
- Median loss: $450

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A bridge over Austin and downtown in the background.
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#17. Texas

- Reports per 100K people: 1,080
- Total reports: 313,044
- Total loss: $369,437,769
- Median loss: $500

Downtown New York City skyline.
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#16. New York

- Reports per 100K people: 1,083
- Total reports: 210,749
- Total loss: $280,882,468
- Median loss: $500

Historic row homes in Portsmouth.
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#15. Virginia

- Reports per 100K people: 1,099
- Total reports: 93,763
- Total loss: $112,898,996
- Median loss: $500

Aerial cityscape of homes in Dover.
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#14. New Jersey

- Reports per 100K people: 1,107
- Total reports: 98,316
- Total loss: $122,175,462
- Median loss: $508

Aerial view of Aspen at night with huge mountains in the background.
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#13. Colorado

- Reports per 100K people: 1,119
- Total reports: 64,464
- Total loss: $87,975,013
- Median loss: $479

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A long line of chairs and umbrellas on the beach.
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#12. South Carolina

- Reports per 100K people: 1,149
- Total reports: 59,177
- Total loss: $46,428,921
- Median loss: $400

Colorful homes and a long pier on the water.
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#11. Alaska

- Reports per 100K people: 1,156
- Total reports: 8,458
- Total loss: $13,078,284
- Median loss: $600

Aerial view of Downtown Gatlinburg in a green valley.
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#10. Tennessee

- Reports per 100K people: 1,157
- Total reports: 79,012
- Total loss: $62,602,651
- Median loss: $400

A busy downtown New Orleans in the evening.
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#9. Louisiana

- Reports per 100K people: 1,193
- Total reports: 55,456
- Total loss: $30,022,528
- Median loss: $422

Downtown Philadelphia skyline.
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#8. Pennsylvania

- Reports per 100K people: 1,205
- Total reports: 154,313
- Total loss: $120,888,991
- Median loss: $400

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Aerial view of downtown Mobile.
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#7. Alabama

- Reports per 100K people: 1,217
- Total reports: 59,669
- Total loss: $44,712,880
- Median loss: $423

Drone view of umbrellas on the beach and street in Fort Lauderdale.
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#6. Florida

- Reports per 100K people: 1,370
- Total reports: 294,328
- Total loss: $331,282,322
- Median loss: $532

Bright neon lights at the entrance to Reno.
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#5. Nevada

- Reports per 100K people: 1,407
- Total reports: 43,339
- Total loss: $69,551,003
- Median loss: $616

Downtown Wilmington on the river.
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#4. Delaware

- Reports per 100K people: 1,410
- Total reports: 13,726
- Total loss: $14,135,903
- Median loss: $500

Aerial view of Annapolis on the water.
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#3. Maryland

- Reports per 100K people: 1,415
- Total reports: 85,568
- Total loss: $93,976,802
- Median loss: $518

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Aerial view of historic downtown Macon.
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#2. Georgia

- Reports per 100K people: 1,421
- Total reports: 150,898
- Total loss: $112,980,173
- Median loss: $500

Washington D.C. city skyline.
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#1. Washington DC

- Reports per 100K people: 1,701
- Total reports: 12,004
- Total loss: $10,207,425
- Median loss: $500

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