In the digital age, cyber crime has emerged as a top national security threat. According to the FBI, cyber actors out of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia have targeted U.S. networks — in both the private and public sectors — to steal intellectual property and jeopardize critical infrastructure.
Not only carried out by foreign adversaries for geopolitical reasons, cyber attacks are also committed by criminals all over the world, often for financial gain. Common examples of cyber crime include non-payment or non-delivery, extortion, phishing, identity theft, and credit card fraud. These crimes often target individuals, and as the methods employed by their perpetrators have grown increasingly sophisticated, so too have the stakes.
There were nearly 801,000 cyber crime complaints worldwide in 2022, and according to the FBI, over half of them were reported in the United States. These crimes resulted in approximately $10.3 billion in losses, a 281% increase from five years ago. (Here is a look at the biggest financial frauds of the 21st century.)
While the U.S. is far and away the most common target for cyber criminals, the likelihood of being a victim is far higher in some parts of the country than others.
Using data from the FBI’S 2022 Internet Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most cyber crime. States were ranked based on the number of cybercrime complaints for every 10,000 residents in 2022. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.
Across the 50 states, the number of cyber crime complaints in 2022 range from 6.9 per 10,000 people, to nearly 29 per 10,000. Nationwide, these crimes resulted in $9.5 billion in financial losses, or an average of about $20,000 per complaint. In several states, the cyber crimes were far more harmful, resulting in average losses well above $25,000. (Here is a look at the most infamous white collar scandals in history.)
50. Mississippi
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 6.9 per 10,000 residents (2,043 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $13,810
- Total cybercrime losses: $28.2 million
49. Kansas
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 8.2 per 10,000 residents (2,399 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $24,239
- Total cybercrime losses: $58.1 million
48. North Dakota
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.0 per 10,000 residents (703 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $20,312
- Total cybercrime losses: $14.3 million
47. Iowa
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.2 per 10,000 residents (2,959 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $14,467
- Total cybercrime losses: $42.8 million
46. Kentucky
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.4 per 10,000 residents (4,256 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $13,404
- Total cybercrime losses: $57.0 million
45. Louisiana
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.4 per 10,000 residents (4,335 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $12,848
- Total cybercrime losses: $55.7 million
44. Arkansas
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.5 per 10,000 residents (2,887 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $16,013
- Total cybercrime losses: $46.2 million
43. Alabama
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.6 per 10,000 residents (4,893 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $50,670
- Total cybercrime losses: $247.9 million
42. North Carolina
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.9 per 10,000 residents (10,554 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $16,624
- Total cybercrime losses: $175.5 million
41. Nebraska
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 9.9 per 10,000 residents (1,957 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $14,645
- Total cybercrime losses: $28.7 million
40. New Hampshire
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.1 per 10,000 residents (1,416 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $20,708
- Total cybercrime losses: $29.3 million
39. Tennessee
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.2 per 10,000 residents (7,161 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $15,880
- Total cybercrime losses: $113.7 million
38. Minnesota
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.2 per 10,000 residents (5,845 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $17,754
- Total cybercrime losses: $103.8 million
37. Rhode Island
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.2 per 10,000 residents (1,119 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $19,506
- Total cybercrime losses: $21.8 million
36. Oklahoma
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.3 per 10,000 residents (4,148 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $16,036
- Total cybercrime losses: $66.5 million
35. Idaho
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.3 per 10,000 residents (2,001 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $20,152
- Total cybercrime losses: $40.3 million
34. Maine
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.4 per 10,000 residents (1,435 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $14,915
- Total cybercrime losses: $21.4 million
33. West Virginia
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.4 per 10,000 residents (1,846 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $9,859
- Total cybercrime losses: $18.2 million
32. Montana
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.4 per 10,000 residents (1,170 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $19,019
- Total cybercrime losses: $22.3 million
31. Vermont
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 10.9 per 10,000 residents (707 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $22,157
- Total cybercrime losses: $15.7 million
30. Massachusetts
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 11.2 per 10,000 residents (7,805 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $28,982
- Total cybercrime losses: $226.2 million
29. Pennsylvania
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 11.3 per 10,000 residents (14,714 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $17,052
- Total cybercrime losses: $250.9 million
28. Ohio
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 11.6 per 10,000 residents (13,659 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $13,185
- Total cybercrime losses: $180.1 million
27. Illinois
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 11.8 per 10,000 residents (14,786 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $18,040
- Total cybercrime losses: $266.7 million
26. Hawaii
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 11.8 per 10,000 residents (1,703 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $21,008
- Total cybercrime losses: $35.8 million
25. Missouri
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.2 per 10,000 residents (7,560 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $15,657
- Total cybercrime losses: $118.4 million
24. New Mexico
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.3 per 10,000 residents (2,589 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $12,724
- Total cybercrime losses: $32.9 million
23. Georgia
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.3 per 10,000 residents (13,415 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $24,051
- Total cybercrime losses: $322.6 million
22. New Jersey
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.7 per 10,000 residents (11,793 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $24,132
- Total cybercrime losses: $284.6 million
21. New York
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.8 per 10,000 residents (25,112 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $30,945
- Total cybercrime losses: $777.1 million
20. Utah
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.8 per 10,000 residents (4,325 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $22,853
- Total cybercrime losses: $98.8 million
19. Texas
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.9 per 10,000 residents (38,661 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $19,739
- Total cybercrime losses: $763.1 million
18. Connecticut
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 12.9 per 10,000 residents (4,683 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $21,341
- Total cybercrime losses: $99.9 million
17. Oregon
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 13.0 per 10,000 residents (5,516 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $19,927
- Total cybercrime losses: $109.9 million
16. Wisconsin
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 13.3 per 10,000 residents (7,863 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $13,851
- Total cybercrime losses: $108.9 million
15. Michigan
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 13.5 per 10,000 residents (13,566 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $13,111
- Total cybercrime losses: $177.9 million
14. Virginia
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 13.7 per 10,000 residents (11,882 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $17,292
- Total cybercrime losses: $205.5 million
13. Wyoming
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 14.8 per 10,000 residents (863 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $20,834
- Total cybercrime losses: $18.0 million
12. South Carolina
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 14.9 per 10,000 residents (7,861 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $12,754
- Total cybercrime losses: $100.3 million
11. Washington
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 16.0 per 10,000 residents (12,432 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $19,379
- Total cybercrime losses: $240.9 million
10. Arizona
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 16.5 per 10,000 residents (12,112 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $19,913
- Total cybercrime losses: $241.2 million
9. Indiana
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 17.1 per 10,000 residents (11,682 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $6,307
- Total cybercrime losses: $73.7 million
8. South Dakota
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 18.6 per 10,000 residents (1,691 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $28,429
- Total cybercrime losses: $48.1 million
7. Maryland
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 18.9 per 10,000 residents (11,644 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $18,712
- Total cybercrime losses: $217.9 million
6. Florida
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 19.2 per 10,000 residents (42,792 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $19,746
- Total cybercrime losses: $845.0 million
5. Colorado
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 20.0 per 10,000 residents (11,683 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $15,269
- Total cybercrime losses: $178.4 million
4. California
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 20.7 per 10,000 residents (80,766 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $24,921
- Total cybercrime losses: $2.0 billion
3. Alaska
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 21.0 per 10,000 residents (1,539 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $10,934
- Total cybercrime losses: $16.8 million
2. Delaware
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 22.8 per 10,000 residents (2,327 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $17,611
- Total cybercrime losses: $41.0 million
1. Nevada
- Cybercrime complaints, 2022: 28.6 per 10,000 residents (9,090 total)
- Avg. loss per cybercrime complaint: $14,006
- Total cybercrime losses: $127.3 million
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