10 States Where Fraud Is Rampant. Is Yours on the List?
WalletHub report compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 14 key metrics, including each state’s vulnerability to identity theft and fraud.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
Identity theft and fraud cases are on the rise. To shed light on where consumers face the greatest risks, personal finance site WalletHub identified the states where people are the most susceptible to scams and bad actors.
2024’s States Most Vulnerable to Identity Theft & Fraud compares the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 14 key metrics, including each state’s vulnerability to identity theft and fraud, as well as state policies that protect against these crimes.
WalletHub's report was spurred by the MOVEit data breach that affected a wide range of organizations in the public and private sectors, including financial services companies, government agencies, pension funds and more. In fact, more than 83 million individuals (so far) have been affected, at an estimated cost of more than $13.7 billion, according to WalletHub.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The ten most and least vulnerable states span from one coast to the next, and include:
| Most Vulnerable | Least Vulnerable States |
| 1. District of Columbia | 1. Kansas |
| 2. Delaware | 2. Rhode Island |
| 3. Florida | 3. Iowa |
| 4. Nevada | 4. New Mexico |
| 5. Georgia | 5. Montana |
| 6. South Carolina | 6. Alaska |
| 7. Maryland | 7. Oklahoma |
| 8. California | 8. Wisconsin |
| 9. Virginia | 9. Wyoming |
| 10. Texas | 10. Illinois |
“In the District of Columbia, there were a staggering 1,747 fraud complaints per 100,000 residents last year, more than anywhere else in the nation. It’s worrying that the home of the federal government also happens to be the area most vulnerable to identity theft and fraud,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst. “One key reason why the District of Columbia is so vulnerable is that it lacks key laws to protect consumers when it comes to things like data disposal, phishing, spyware and more.”
While it may be near impossible to predict if and when you may fall victim to a scam or have your identity stolen, there are several things you can do to protect yourself.
- Consider buying identity theft protection. The price you pay now is nothing compared to what it will cost if your identity is stolen or you fall victim to a scam.
- Monitor financial information often. And report irregularities.
- Protect your devices. Using two-factor log-ins, changing your passwords, and not using public Wi-Fi.
- Shred old documents. Especially those with personal or financial information attached
- Use credit cards. All major credit card networks guarantee $0 liability for fraudulent purchases.
Related Content
-
3 Reasons to Use a 5-Year CD As You Approach RetirementA five-year CD can help you reach other milestones as you approach retirement.
-
Your Adult Kids Are Doing Fine. Is It Time To Spend Some of Their Inheritance?If your kids are successful, do they need an inheritance? Ask yourself these four questions before passing down another dollar.
-
4 Estate Planning Documents Every High-Net-Worth Family NeedsThe key to successful estate planning for HNW families isn't just drafting these four documents, but ensuring they're current and immediately accessible.
