States can deter online scammers by improving their fraud detection systems, offering digital literacy programs and strengthening consumer protection measures. (Credit: Who is Danny/Adobe Stock)
Online fraud is hitting Nevada, California and New Jersey the hardest, according to a new study by cybersecurity company Next Perimeter.
Analyzing internet scams using 2023 data from the Internet Crime Complaint Center, the study looked at total financial losses from online fraud in each state as well as losses per capita.
Nevada had the highest losses per capita, at $62.60 per person, but California had the highest total losses from online fraud, at $2.16 billion, or $55.53 per capita. New Jersey ranked third, with $441 million in losses to online scams, or $47.33 per capita.
The rest of the top 10 included Alaska, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, New York, Utah and Florida.
On the other end of the spectrum, Kentucky saw the lowest financial losses to internet scams, at just $10.74 per capita. Mississippi came in second, with just $10.93 lost per capita. West Virginia ranked third, at $12.14 per capita.
The rest of the bottom 10 included Maine, Vermont, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Ohio and North Dakota.
“Digital fraud patterns tell us something important about cybersecurity in America today,” said Michael Moore, Next Perimeter’s chief information officer, in a statement. “Areas with higher levels of digital transactions and technological integration face greater risks from online fraud. This points to a key challenge — the same digital infrastructure that drives economic growth can create opportunities for cybercriminals.”
States can deter online scammers by improving their fraud detection systems, offering digital literacy programs and strengthening consumer protection measures, Moore said.
“By understanding where and how cybercriminals operate, we can design more effective prevention strategies while supporting continued digital innovation,” he said.
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