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States Where Cyber Crime is Leaving Americans Broke

States Where Cyber Crime is Leaving Americans Broke

States Where Cyber Crime is Leaving Americans Broke
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Why it Matters
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50. West Virginia
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49. Kentucky
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48. Arkansas
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47. Vermont
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46. Indiana
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45. Louisiana
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44. Alabama
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43. Rhode Island
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42. Mississippi
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41. Maine
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40. Iowa
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39. Nebraska
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38. Ohio
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37. Michigan
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36. Tennessee
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35. South Carolina
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34. South Dakota
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33. Kansas
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32. North Dakota
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31. Oklahoma
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30. Montana
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29. Wisconsin
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28. North Carolina
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27. Missouri
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26. Pennsylvania
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25. Idaho
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24. Oregon
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23. Minnesota
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22. Alaska
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21. Delaware
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20. New Mexico
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19. Virginia
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18. Utah
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17. New Hampshire
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16. Georgia
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15. Illinois
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14. Maryland
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13. Hawaii
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12. Connecticut
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11. Colorado
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10. Texas
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9. New York
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8. New Jersey
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7. Florida
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6. Washington
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5. Massachusetts
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4. Arizona
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3. California
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2. Wyoming
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1. Nevada
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States Where Cyber Crime is Leaving Americans Broke
Why it Matters
50. West Virginia
49. Kentucky
48. Arkansas
47. Vermont
46. Indiana
45. Louisiana
44. Alabama
43. Rhode Island
42. Mississippi
41. Maine
40. Iowa
39. Nebraska
38. Ohio
37. Michigan
36. Tennessee
35. South Carolina
34. South Dakota
33. Kansas
32. North Dakota
31. Oklahoma
30. Montana
29. Wisconsin
28. North Carolina
27. Missouri
26. Pennsylvania
25. Idaho
24. Oregon
23. Minnesota
22. Alaska
21. Delaware
20. New Mexico
19. Virginia
18. Utah
17. New Hampshire
16. Georgia
15. Illinois
14. Maryland
13. Hawaii
12. Connecticut
11. Colorado
10. Texas
9. New York
8. New Jersey
7. Florida
6. Washington
5. Massachusetts
4. Arizona
3. California
2. Wyoming
1. Nevada

States Where Cyber Crime is Leaving Americans Broke

In the last 25 years, the share of Americans who regularly use the internet increased from less than 50%, to more than 90%. Over the same period, the average number of cyber-crime incidents reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, surged from about 2,000 every month, to more than 2,000 every day — and as cyber-crime has become more common, it has also taken a greater financial toll on everyday Americans.

Key Points

  • As the internet becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, millions of Americans are exposed to greater risk of cyber crime — and victims of these crimes often face devastating financial consequences.
  • According to FBI data, cybercrime rates have surged in recent years, resulting in billions of dollars in financial losses — and certain regions of the country have become hotspots for fraud, identity theft, extortion, and other internet-enabled criminal activities.

According to a recent IC3 report, cyber-crime resulted in $16.6 billion in losses in 2024 alone — a 33% increase from 2023, and more than four times the total losses reported as recently as 2020. The specific types of cyber-crime that result in the greatest monetary losses include those related to investments, tech support scams, data breaches, and credit card fraud.

While Americans of all ages are targeted by cyber-threats, older Americans are generally at greatest risk. FBI data shows that Americans 60 and older lost $4.8 billion to cyber-crime in 2024, hundreds of millions of dollars more than the total combined losses among those under age 50. (Here is a look at the 10 financial scams and frauds that every American over 50 needs to watch out for.)

Risk of meaningful financial losses varies not only by age group, but also geography. Adjusting the monetary impact of cyber-crime to population figures at the state level shows that Americans are losing far more to cyber-crime in some parts of the country than in others.

Using data from the FBI's Internet Crime Report 2024, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where cyber-crime poses the greatest financial risk to residents. States are ranked by total financial losses to cyber-threats for every 100,000 people. All data in this story are from the FBI's IC3, and are for the 2024 calendar year.

Depending on the state, financial losses attributable to cyber-crime range from about $1.4 million for every 100,000 people, to over $8.2 million per 100,000. Perhaps not surprisingly, population-adjusted financial losses at the state level tend to correlate with overall cyber-crime rates. (Here is a look at the mistakes that can make you a magnet for crime.)

Of the 10 highest ranking states on this list, half also rank among the 10 states with the most reported incidents of cyber-crime for every 100,000 people. Similarly, seven of the 10 lowest ranking states on this list also rank among the 10 states with the lowest cyber-crime rates.

These are the states where Americans are at greatest financial risk from cyber threats.

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