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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 forThe city of San Juan, Puerto Rico 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: $508Historic buildings and businesses in Deadwood, SD.

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#51. South Dakota

– Reports per 100K people: 549
– Total reports: 4,854
– Total loss: $6,828,535
– Median loss: $489Historic main street in Grand Forks, ND.

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#50. North Dakota

– Reports per 100K people: 608
– Total reports: 4,637
– Total loss: $8,897,094
– Median loss: $440Colorful 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: $379An aerial view of downtown Omaha, NE.

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#48. Nebraska

– Reports per 100K people: 697
– Total reports: 13,475
– Total loss: $14,314,521
– Median loss: $450Antler arches in Jackson Hole, WY.

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#47. Wyoming

– Reports per 100K people: 731
– Total reports: 4,230
– Total loss: $7,751,648
– Median loss: $500Aerial view of homes in Oklahoma City, OK.

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#46. Oklahoma

– Reports per 100K people: 783
– Total reports: 30,996
– Total loss: $26,906,284
– Median loss: $410Lexington, KY skyline.

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#45. Kentucky

– Reports per 100K people: 796
– Total reports: 35,544
– Total loss: $30,598,771
– Median loss: $350Aerial view of a waterway going through Morgantown, WV.

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#44. West Virginia

– Reports per 100K people: 797
– Total reports: 14,287
– Total loss: $10,206,786
– Median loss: $350Historic buildings in Fayetteville, AR.

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#43. Arkansas

– Reports per 100K people: 801
– Total reports: 24,176
– Total loss: $16,692,589
– Median loss: $450Homes and boats in Bayfield, WI.

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#42. Wisconsin

– Reports per 100K people: 803
– Total reports: 46,755
– Total loss: $48,716,758
– Median loss: $390Aerial view of Missoula, MT from the mountain.

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#41. Montana

– Reports per 100K people: 806
– Total reports: 8,612
– Total loss: $9,582,342
– Median loss: $436A large ornate brick building, a church and other small businesses on a street in Mankato, MN.

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#40. Minnesota

– Reports per 100K people: 809
– Total reports: 45,599
– Total loss: $60,317,592
– Median loss: $482An aerial view of Boise, ID 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: $396White 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: $400Aerial view of downtown Salt Lake City, UT.

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#37. Utah

– Reports per 100K people: 823
– Total reports: 26,373
– Total loss: $37,346,855
– Median loss: $500Wichita, KS skyline.

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#36. Kansas

– Reports per 100K people: 845
– Total reports: 24,615
– Total loss: $19,916,988
– Median loss: $429Colorful 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: $337Surfers 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: $620Aerial 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: $400Downtown Detroit, MI 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: $400Las Cruces, NM 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: $500Downtown Jackson, MS 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: $400Homes and boats on the water in Portsmouth, NH.

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#29. New Hampshire

– Reports per 100K people: 914
– Total reports: 12,429
– Total loss: $13,660,810
– Median loss: $450Historic buildings and churches in New Britain, CT.

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#28. Connecticut

– Reports per 100K people: 917
– Total reports: 32,686
– Total loss: $40,886,958
– Median loss: $460Homes nestled in the trees in Branson, MO.

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#27. Missouri

– Reports per 100K people: 953
– Total reports: 58,485
– Total loss: $52,266,861
– Median loss: $361Downtown Portland, OR 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: $500Cincinnati, OH 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: $375Homes 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: $500A bustling street in Hollywood, CA.

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#23. California

– Reports per 100K people: 991
– Total reports: 391,517
– Total loss: $820,858,149
– Median loss: $600Homes on the water in Tacoma, WA 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: $500Aerial view of downtown Wilmington, NC 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: $446Palm tree-lined street in downtown Phoenix, AZ.

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#20. Arizona

– Reports per 100K people: 1,065
– Total reports: 77,534
– Total loss: $116,030,737
– Median loss: $515Homes 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: $447Chicago, IL 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: $450A bridge over Austin, TX 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: $500Downtown 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: $500Historic row homes in Portsmouth, VA.

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#15. Virginia

– Reports per 100K people: 1,099
– Total reports: 93,763
– Total loss: $112,898,996
– Median loss: $500Aerial cityscape of homes in Dover, NJ.

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#14. New Jersey

– Reports per 100K people: 1,107
– Total reports: 98,316
– Total loss: $122,175,462
– Median loss: $508Aerial view of Aspen, CO at night in the mountains.

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#13. Colorado

– Reports per 100K people: 1,119
– Total reports: 64,464
– Total loss: $87,975,013
– Median loss: $479A 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: $400Colorful 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: $600Downtown Gatlinburg, TN 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: $400A busy downtown New Orleans, LA 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: $422Downtown Philadelphia, PA skyline.

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#8. Pennsylvania

– Reports per 100K people: 1,205
– Total reports: 154,313
– Total loss: $120,888,991
– Median loss: $400Aerial view of downtown Mobile, AL.

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#7. Alabama

– Reports per 100K people: 1,217
– Total reports: 59,669
– Total loss: $44,712,880
– Median loss: $423Drone view of umbrellas on the beach and street in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

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#6. Florida

– Reports per 100K people: 1,370
– Total reports: 294,328
– Total loss: $331,282,322
– Median loss: $532Bright neon lights at the entrance to Reno, NV.

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#5. Nevada

– Reports per 100K people: 1,407
– Total reports: 43,339
– Total loss: $69,551,003
– Median loss: $616Downtown Wilmington, DE 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: $500Aerial view of Annapolis, MD 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: $518Aerial view of historic downtown Macon, GA.

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#2. Georgia

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

Stacker

Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

Brad Fuqua

Brad Fuqua, Philomath News

bradfuqua@philomathnews.com

Brad Fuqua has covered the Philomath area since 2014 as the editor of the now-closed Philomath Express and currently as publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He has worked as a professional journalist since 1988 at daily and weekly newspapers in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, Arizona, Montana and Oregon.