A sweet and pleasing accent, a catchy hook, an irreplaceable offer, or a devastating threat are all that scammers use to scam over 2,000 Americans daily, and well, those are just reported numbers. When added up, the amount of American currency lost to scams is over $10.3 billion; now that's some real money.
With unknown origins, the word 'scam' is ancient, but scammers indeed aren't; they work hard to find new ways to pull those dollar bills out of American pockets. Let's look at a list of America's most financially scammed states to help you realize the potential danger and save some of your hard-earned money.
Top 6 Most Scammed States in America 2023
While some American states are protected from scammers under the safe haven of a lower population or a lower average income, other bigger and richer states are a constant target. Here are six of the most scammed states in America:
California
The Hollywood town, home to nearly 40 million Americans and the showbiz economy, is reported to be the most financially scammed states in America. Scammers are going bonkers here, trying to attack vulnerable students and targeting all age groups in a series of scams.
California's Department of Justice has listed fake charities, unsolicited calls, and loan modification as the most common scams. As per recorded data, 244 out of every 100,000 California citizens were scammed during the first quarter of 2023. Totaling up losses, Californians lost nearly $249 million in just three months!
Florida
Often remembered for its palm trees, Florida is the world's most visited destination, with thousands of tourists landing and taking off each day. Housing half the population of California, Florida nearly has the same amount of scams.
According to data, 29,602 financial scam reports were filed during the first quarter of 2023, with total losses reaching nearly $100 million. In almost all shapes and sizes, financial scams in Florida vary from larger scams such as Tax Identity Theft to small but dangerous 'Can You Hear Me?' scams.
New Jersey
New Jersey is home to beautiful beaches and chaotic casinos, but unfortunately, there are also a ton of financial scams. Ranked third on our list, New Jersey received over 11,229 reports and lost around 44.8 million during the first quarter of 2023.
While the losses from these financial scams might seem smaller than the first two American States on our list, it's important to note that New Jersey only has 9.2 million residents.
Texas
Cowboy state that does everything big is also significant for scams, which considering its massive 29.35 million population and above average economic growth is only expected. According to data, Texas received over 29,856 financial fraud reports, losing $119.6 million.
The average loss for a Texas citizen in a scam during 2023 is reported to be around $540, quite a dent, isn't it? Texas Legal, a law firm, mentions easy credit options, counterfeit cheques, and Government grants as some of the most common scams in Texas.
New York
It is a bustling metropolitan with tall buildings and busy people getting caught up in many scams, losing nearly $64.9 million and receiving over 22,688 financial scam reports in the first quarter of 2023.
While New York, like other American states, has a long list of common scams, such as employment agency scams, ATM skimmer scams, and phone scams, it also has scams associated with the city's parking problems. Scammers are known to send out fake parking tickets or bills, trying to fool you into thinking you must pay a parking ticket or towing fee.
Illinois
With 14,528 cases of financial scams and $42.3 million in losses in just months, Illinois, 'The Prairie State' is sixth on our list of the most financially scammed states in America.
According to the Illinois Attorney Journal, some of the most common scams in Illinois include IRS Scam Calls, Ponzi schemes, Romance and Bereavement Scams. Scammers are usually known to target vulnerable people, such as the elderly, depressed, and people who have recently lost a loved one.
How to Outsmart Your Scammer
If you belong to any of the above-mentioned American States or don't, we suggest you take some necessary steps to protect yourself against most of these familiar yet often noticeable financial scams in the US.
Never Reveal Personal Information:
When receiving any random phone call, make sure that you never disclose any sensitive information such as your name, social security number, passwords, and most importantly, your credit card and bank account number, even if the person claims to be a worker at your bank or a government office, remember; caller ID is not always accurate.
Learn Quick Detection Techniques
Scammers, though smart, are not always very educated and can make many mistakes in their emails, messages, or calls; we recommend you learn to spot these mistakes. Some common errors include unfamiliar greetings or salutations, bad grammar, spelling mistakes, and unnecessary urgency.
Don't Make Financial Decisions in a Moment
As mentioned earlier, financial scammers often try to create a sense of urgency, giving you just a few seconds to decide on a payment. Banks or any other financial institution would never force an urgent payment; hang up when you feel pressure from the other side.
Review Information and Call Back
When contacted by an organization requesting information, you simply ask them to email you an official email address. Once received, you can get this email checked by a trusted person and even call the organization to inquire about the authenticity of the contact person.
Conclusion
As the world moves towards a digital economy, financial scams are getting more common and easier to carry out, and people living in first-world countries are experiencing their worst side. Over the last 30 years of its internet boom, America has been noticing an ever-increasing trend of financial scams, and according to experts, these numbers are only bound to go up. We hope this list of the most scammed states in America was useful for you.
