This State Is A Hotbed For Cybercrime

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• From 2019 to 2023, the number of cybercrime complaints in the United States nearly doubled.
• Total losses due to cybercrime more than tripled, from $3.5 billion in 2019 to $12.5 billion in 2023.
• About 1 in every 20 complaints had to do with cryptocurrency.
• The prevalence of cybercrime correlates with factors like age and education, and varies considerably across the country.
• Cybercrime is most prevalent in states with large elderly populations.
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One of the fastest-growing threats to national and personal security is the rise of cybercrime. As technology advances and critical infrastructure is increasingly relocated to the digital realm, malicious actors have the capability to completely paralyze private companies, police departments, and any other organization without sufficient cybersecurity. Private individuals are also highly targeted, and are increasingly the victims of financial loss.

Over the last five years, the prevalence of cybercrime in the United States has nearly doubled. According to the FBI, there were 880,418 complaints of internet scams in 2023, an 88.4% increase from the 467,361 complaints received in 2019. Total losses more than tripled over the same period, from $3.5 billion to $12.5 billion.

The most common cybercrime complaints include phishing and spoofing, personal data breaches, non-payment scams, and extortion schemes. About 1 in every 20 complaints in 2023 had to do with cryptocurrency. The prevalence and types of cybercrime being committed vary considerably across the country, and correlate with factors like age and education. Lottery and sweepstakes scams tend to target older Americans, while scams promoting fake employment opportunities target younger Americans.

As a result, the impact of cybercrime varies considerably from state to state. While cybercrime losses per capita amount to $10.77 per resident in Kentucky, they amount to nearly six times that in the most burdened state. Many of the states with the most cybercrime losses have large shares of elderly residents who are particularly vulnerable to online fraud. A closer look at the data reveals the states with the worst cybercrime.

To determine the states with the worst cybercrime, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on cybercrime from the FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report. States were ranked based on total losses due to cybercrime per 100,000 residents in 2023. Supplemental data on annual cybercrime complaints are also from the FBI.

50. Kentucky

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.1 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 102.5 per 100,000 residents (4th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $48.7 million (16th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 4,641 (20th lowest)

49. Mississippi

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.1 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 101.5 per 100,000 residents (3rd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $32.1 million (9th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,983 (17th lowest)

48. West Virginia

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.2 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 133.6 per 100,000 residents (25th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $21.4 million (5th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,365 (13th lowest)

47. Maine

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 116.5 per 100,000 residents (13th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $19.0 million (4th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 1,626 (6th lowest)

46. Vermont

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 107.8 per 100,000 residents (7th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $8.8 million (the lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 698 (the lowest)

45. Arkansas

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.5 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 105.0 per 100,000 residents (5th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $46.6 million (15th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 3,220 (18th lowest)

44. Wisconsin

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.6 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 130.0 per 100,000 residents (22nd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $92.1 million (22nd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 7,683 (23rd highest)

43. Oklahoma

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 123.0 per 100,000 residents (17th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $67.0 million (20th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 4,987 (22nd lowest)

42. Ohio

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 151.6 per 100,000 residents (15th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $197.4 million (17th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 17,864 (5th highest)

41. Louisiana

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 106.9 per 100,000 residents (6th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $78.3 million (21st lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 4,890 (21st lowest)

40. North Dakota

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 97.5 per 100,000 residents (the lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $13.5 million (2nd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 764 (2nd lowest)

39. Iowa

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.9 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 116.1 per 100,000 residents (12th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $59.8 million (19th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 3,723 (19th lowest)

38. Alabama

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.9 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 112.8 per 100,000 residents (9th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $96.5 million (24th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 5,763 (25th lowest)

37. New Hampshire

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $1.9 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 117.7 per 100,000 residents (14th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $27.2 million (6th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 1,650 (7th lowest)

36. Missouri

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.0 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 130.9 per 100,000 residents (23rd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $123.4 million (24th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 8,108 (22nd highest)

35. Michigan

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.0 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 147.3 per 100,000 residents (17th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $203.4 million (15th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 14,784 (9th highest)

34. Nebraska

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.1 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 110.9 per 100,000 residents (8th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $40.6 million (12th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,195 (10th lowest)

33. New Mexico

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.1 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 139.2 per 100,000 residents (22nd highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $45.1 million (13th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,944 (16th lowest)

32. North Carolina

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.2 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 113.3 per 100,000 residents (10th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $235.0 million (13th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 12,282 (13th highest)

31. South Carolina

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.2 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 181.2 per 100,000 residents (10th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $120.0 million (25th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 9,736 (19th highest)

30. Tennessee

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.3 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 119.0 per 100,000 residents (15th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $161.2 million (21st highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 8,484 (21st highest)

29. Wyoming

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 141.8 per 100,000 residents (20th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $13.7 million (3rd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 828 (3rd lowest)

28. Indiana

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 161.7 per 100,000 residents (11th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $162.3 million (20th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 11,097 (16th highest)

27. Idaho

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.6 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 114.0 per 100,000 residents (11th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $50.6 million (17th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,240 (11th lowest)

26. Illinois

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 125.8 per 100,000 residents (18th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $335.8 million (7th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 15,783 (8th highest)

25. Georgia

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 126.2 per 100,000 residents (19th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $301.0 million (9th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 13,917 (11th highest)

24. Pennsylvania

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.8 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 126.6 per 100,000 residents (20th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $360.3 million (6th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 16,407 (7th highest)

23. Rhode Island

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $2.9 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 130.0 per 100,000 residents (22nd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $31.6 million (7th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 1,425 (4th lowest)

22. Virginia

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.0 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 145.8 per 100,000 residents (18th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $265.1 million (11th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 12,711 (12th highest)

21. Colorado

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.2 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 195.2 per 100,000 residents (6th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $187.6 million (19th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 11,475 (15th highest)

20. Kansas

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.2 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 98.4 per 100,000 residents (2nd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $94.2 million (23rd lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,894 (15th lowest)

19. Oregon

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.2 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 158.8 per 100,000 residents (12th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $136.1 million (22nd highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 6,724 (25th highest)

18. Connecticut

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.3 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 144.2 per 100,000 residents (19th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $120.8 million (25th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 5,216 (24th lowest)

17. Texas

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.3 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 155.1 per 100,000 residents (14th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $1.0 billion (2nd highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 47,305 (2nd highest)

16. Massachusetts

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 141.6 per 100,000 residents (21st highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $235.9 million (12th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 9,915 (17th highest)

15. Minnesota

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 122.8 per 100,000 residents (16th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $193.9 million (18th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 7,049 (24th highest)

14. Delaware

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 260.4 per 100,000 residents (3rd highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $35.4 million (10th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,687 (14th lowest)

13. Maryland

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.6 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 157.2 per 100,000 residents (13th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $221.5 million (14th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 9,717 (20th highest)

12. Hawaii

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.6 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 136.2 per 100,000 residents (25th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $51.7 million (18th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 1,954 (9th lowest)

11. Washington

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 186.9 per 100,000 residents (7th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $288.7 million (10th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 14,600 (10th highest)

10. New York

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.8 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 137.7 per 100,000 residents (24th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $750.0 million (4th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 26,948 (4th highest)

9. Florida

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.9 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 181.6 per 100,000 residents (9th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $874.7 million (3rd highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 41,061 (3rd highest)

8. Utah

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.9 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 148.1 per 100,000 residents (16th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $132.3 million (23rd highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 5,061 (23rd lowest)

7. South Dakota

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $3.9 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 183.6 per 100,000 residents (8th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $35.9 million (11th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 1,688 (8th lowest)

6. Montana

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $4.0 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 138.7 per 100,000 residents (23rd highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $45.6 million (14th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 1,571 (5th lowest)

5. Alaska

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $4.3 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 318.8 per 100,000 residents (the highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $31.8 million (8th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 2,338 (12th lowest)

4. Arizona

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $4.4 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 223.2 per 100,000 residents (4th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $324.4 million (8th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 16,584 (6th highest)

3. New Jersey

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $4.7 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 131.9 per 100,000 residents (24th lowest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $441.2 million (5th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 12,253 (14th highest)

2. California

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $5.5 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 198.3 per 100,000 residents (5th highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $2.2 billion (the highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 77,271 (the highest)

1. Nevada

• Annual cybercrime losses per capita: $6.3 million per 100,000 residents
• Annual cybercrime complaints per capita: 309.7 per 100,000 residents (2nd highest)
• Annual cybercrime losses, total: $201.0 million (16th highest)
• Annual cybercrime complaints, total: 9,893 (18th highest)

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