Florida Among States Most In Need Of Fraud Education As 75% Of Americans Fall Victim

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of US adults have fallen victim to some form of online scam, with attacks spreading across all age groups. Earlier this month, WhatsApp shut down 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam operations.

So which states are the most in need of fraud education—and what are the most common scams tripping people up so far this year?

With summer typically being the peak of scams, forex broker experts at BrokerChooser analyzed FTC fraud reports to uncover which states have experienced the biggest spike in fraud cases over the past five years (2020–2024) and which scams have been most commonly reported in the first half of 2025.

States with the largest fraud spikes over the past five years

For the complete data of all states analysed, please click here.

Georgia tops the list of states most in need of fraud education, clocking 2,122 fraud reports per 100,000 residents in 2024—a 78.47% jump from 2020 (1,189 reports per 100K). The median loss so far in 2025 stands at $443, third highest in the top ten.

Louisiana takes second place, with fraud reports up 72.90% since 2020, rising from 856 (2020) to 1,480 (2024) per 100K. While the median loss of $393 is on the lower end of the top ten, scammers are casting a much wider net across the state, with imposter scams and internet service scams emerging as the state’s most common threats.

Florida ranks third most in need of fraud education, with cases rising 69.97% over the past five years. With the nation’s highest fraud report rate at 2,179 per 100K in 2024, residents are facing a median loss of $513 in 2025 – the fourth highest nationally, just behind Arizona ($670), Hawaii ($600) and Wyoming ($520). Imposter scams dominate, followed by online shopping scams.

Rounding out the top five are Texas and Illinois. Texas has seen a 69.87% jump in fraud reports since 2020, with a median loss of $500. That is about 40% higher than in Illinois, where the median loss is $355. Reports climbed 59.76% over the past five years in Illinois, reaching 1,481 per 100K in 2024.

Top 10 fraud types targeting Americans in 2025

In just the first two quarters of 2025, BrokerChooser’s analysis reveals that the most pervasive fraud in the US is imposter scams, with a staggering 516,724 reports nationwide. That is 167% more than online shopping scams in second. Victims reported a median loss of $630, and New Hampshire emerged as the hardest-hit state (1,820 reports per million residents). Americans aged 60 and older are increasingly targeted, with the FTC receiving 8,269 reports from this age group in 2024—up 362% from 2020.3

Online shopping and negative review scams come next, with 193,020 reports and a median loss of $120. Delaware shoppers are the most affected, with 705 reports per million residents.

Internet services scams rank third, with 118,071 reports in the first six months of 2025. Business and job scams come fourth, affecting 75,364 people so far this year, with a striking median loss of $2,100. Nevada is the most exposed, with 276 reports per million residents. Following a 140% spike in layoffs in July, job seekers have become more susceptible to such schemes.4

The most financially damaging among the top ten are investment-related scams, registering 66,703 cases in the US with a jaw-dropping median loss of $10,000. Nevada again tops the list with 216 reports per million, as fraudsters exploit the desire for quick returns.

Balazs Faluvegi, Senior Analyst  from brokerage and forex experts BrokerChooser commented:

Fraud trends across the US have followed an interestingly similar pattern across states, with cases surging post-COVID in 2021, dipping in 2022, and then climbing again in 2023 and 2024. This resurgence reflects the growing sophistication of scammers who are now using AI, advanced algorithms and even deepfake technology to create more convincing and harder-to-detect schemes. As broker analysts, scams and fraud are nothing new to us, but the pace and technological leap in these tactics is unlike anything we’ve seen before.

In terms of volume, imposter scams far outpace other types, exploiting trust by impersonating government officials, family members or well-known companies to pressure victims into acting impulsively. Investment scams, on the other hand, are the most financially draining. The allure of seemingly ‘too good to be true’ opportunities clouds critical judgement, ultimately leaving victims exposed to devastating losses.

Breaking this cycle requires not only awareness but also ongoing education. For investors, that means staying informed not just about general scam tactics, but also about risks specific to the online brokerage industry: from scam trading platforms to cloned websites of legit brokers and impersonated advisors or celebrities. For the general public, staying up to date on the latest scam tactics and regularly reviewing guidance from trusted consumer protection sources can be key to spotting red flags before it’s too late.

Most refunded fraud cases in the US revealed

*Figures above are cumulative totals since 2018

*While proven fraud cases often result in permanent losses for victims, legitimate businesses can also engage in questionable or unfair practices that trigger regulatory intervention. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) refund reports highlight instances where consumers received compensation not because of outright scams, but due to deceptive marketing, hidden fees, or other misleading conduct by otherwise lawful companies. This distinction, however, is important: fraud typically leaves little chance of recovery, whereas regulatory actions against legitimate entities may at least return the money or part of the money to affected customers.

Leading the pack, Progressive Leasing saw the largest number of FTC refund recipients, with over two million people receiving $172.85 million in payouts. The company, which provides financing for items like furniture and jewellery, was accused of misleading customers with “same as cash” plans that promised no interest, when in reality, many ended up paying nearly double the sticker price.

In second place by recipient count, Brigit issued $17.04 million in refunds to 1.8 million customers after the FTC alleged the company deceptively promoted instant cash advances of up to $250 with the ability to cancel anytime. In reality, customers faced hidden fees to access funds quickly and often didn’t receive the promised amounts.

Third on the list is Fortnite developer Epic Games, where nearly 1.6 million players were refunded $198.01 million over claims the company used deceptive practices to trick users into making unwanted in-game purchases, leading to one of the largest gaming-related refund cases in FTC history.

Source: https://brokerchooser.com/best-brokers/best-forex-brokers

Methodology:

1. BrokerChooser conducted an analysis of FTC reports to identify trends in US fraud over the past five years.
2. By examining data from 2020 to 2024, the experts were able to determine which states have experienced the largest increases in reported fraud cases. (Source)
3. They also analyzed reports from the first half of 2025 to identify the most common fraud categories in the US. (Source)
4. Additionally, data on the largest refund cases (ranked by number of recipients) was collected to highlight cases resulting in the highest consumer payouts. (Source)
5. All data was collected on 13 August 2025 and is correct as of then.

[1] Pew Research Center  | Online Scams and Attacks in America Today

[2] Fox News | WhatsApp bans 6.8M scam accounts, launches safety tool

[3] CNBC | Imposter scams cost older adults $700 million in 2024, FTC finds: Some victims are ‘clearing out’ their 401(k)s

[4] Fortune | Stunning new data reveals 140% layoff spike in July, with almost half connected to AI and ‘technological updates’