Money Matters - Gift Scams By State

 New research has revealed the states most at risk of being scammed while shopping for Christmas gifts this year, with Nevada ranking number one.

The research, conducted by experts at Winna, analyzed data from the Federal Trade Commission on the number of fraud reports in each state during each quarter over a three-year period ending in 2024. They compared these figures to population data to find the average number of quarterly fraud reports per 100,000 residents, revealing the states most at risk of being scammed during their Christmas shopping this year.

The top ten states most at risk of being scammed during Christmas shopping

Rank	State	Total fraud reports	Average loss per report	Average quarterly fraud reports per 100,000 people
1	Nevada	70,557	$692.48	192.20
2	Colorado	128,006	$524.82	186.39
3	Delaware	21,585	$571.33	183.19
4	Maryland	130,501	$595.85	176.87
5	Florida	452,222	$650.59	176.60
6	Arizona	148,823	$690.54	175.19
7	Washington	159,807	$594.12	174.83
8	Oregon	87,438	$514.50	173.19
9	Virginia	167,413	$546.48	162.55
10	Alaska	14,322	$768.53	162.17

 

Paul Mertens, CEO of Winna, commented, 

“Fraud is one of the most costly crimes to Americans, with people reporting losses of hundreds of dollars in single reports. The huge numbers of reports in each state also go to show how common this crime is, and how easy it can be to fall victim. Nevada, for example, has an average loss of $692.48 per report, which is a huge loss at any time of year, but especially right before Christmas.

“This risk only increases in December, with people shopping online more often and many letting their guard down while on the hunt for the perfect gifts, an opportunity that scammers take advantage of. Fake retail websites, counterfeit ads on social media, and phishing emails or scam calls disguised as shipping or payment notifications are just a few of the tactics criminals use during major shopping periods, so it is important to remain cautious while shopping online. 

“All of the top-ranking states are located in the South and West, suggesting that these regions may be at a slightly higher risk this Christmas. However, it is crucial to take steps to protect yourself from fraud, no matter which state you are in.

“As the busiest shopping season of the year begins, it is important to only shop on trusted websites, avoid clicking on suspicious ads or links that seem too good to be true, and only use secure payment methods that offer fraud protection. If you think that you may have fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank immediately, report it to the Federal Trade Commission, and change any passwords that may have been compromised.

“Being alert is the best defense against scammers, and by staying informed, shoppers can buy their gifts without becoming a target for fraud.”

Post courtesy https://winna.com/ 

 

Source

Fraud Reports by the Federal Trade Commission

Methodology 

Data on the number of fraud reports per quarter in each state was retrieved from the Federal Trade Commission. This was for a three-year period ending in 2024.

The total number of fraud reports during the three-year period was calculated for each state.

The total number of reports in each state was compared to population data to determine the average number of quarterly fraud reports per 100,000 residents.

States were ranked in order of highest to lowest average number of quarterly fraud reports per 100,000 residents, revealing the states most likely to be scammed while shopping for Christmas gifts.