The States Most Likely to Commit Fraud – Delaware Ranks Top

A new study has revealed the states most likely to commit fraud, with Delaware topping the list.  

• Delaware has been named as the state most likely to commit fraud, topping the list with an average of 713 fraud offenses per 100,000 people 
• Virginia is in second place, with 464 fraud crimes, while New Mexico is in third place, with 457 offenses per 100,000 people 
• Meanwhile, Kentucky is the state the least likely to commit fraud, with 138 offenses per 100,000 people  

Attorneys at the Litigation Law Firm, Callahan & Blaine, obtained data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to determine the states with the highest rates of fraud offenses in 2022. The study then calculated the total average fraud crimes recorded by the NIBRS per 100,000 people, which determined the final ranking.  

The study found that Delaware has the highest rate of fraud offenses, with a total of 713 fraud crimes recorded by the NIBRS per 100,000 people. The study found that identity theft is the most common type of fraud in Delaware, accounting for 261 offenses.  

Virginia is named as the second most likely state to commit fraud, with an average of 464 offenses recorded by the NIBRS per 100,000 people in 2022. According to the study, the ‘false pretenses’ category is the most common offense type in Virginia, which includes crimes such as including false information on documents or selling an item by deceiving the buyer.  

New Mexico is in third place, with an average of 457 fraud crimes recorded by the NIBRS per 100,000 people. The study found that fraud under ‘false pretenses’ is also prevalent in New Mexico, accounting for 227 offenses.  

Kansas is named as the fourth most likely state to commit fraud, with an average of 456 offenses in 2022. The study found that ‘credit card fraud’ is one of the most common offenses in Kansas, which includes crimes such as counterfeiting an individual’s credit card or using stolen information to apply for credit cards online.  

            The top 10 states most likely to commit fraud:  

Next up is North Carolina, with an average of 438 offenses recorded by the NIBRS per 100,000 people. Common types of fraud in North Carolina include fraud under false pretenses and credit card fraud.  

South Carolina is in sixth place, with an average of 437 fraud crimes recorded by the NIBRS in 2022 per 100,000 people. Impersonation is a prominent type of fraud in South Carolina, which includes crimes such as impersonating an individual’s friend or family member to obtain money or impersonating delivery or broadband services to charge false fees.  

Pennsylvania is named as the seventh most likely state to commit fraud, with an average of 435 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022. Identity theft is one of Pennsylvania’s most prolific types of fraud, accounting for 140 offenses.  

Oklahoma is next in the ranking, with the NIBRS recording an average of 412 fraud crimes per 100,000 people. Common types of fraud in Oklahoma include identity theft and fraud under false pretenses.  

Utah and Maryland are both in ninth place, with each state amassing an average of 405 fraud crimes recorded by the NIBRS per 100,000 people. Wire fraud is a reoccurring offense category in Utah, which involves using emails or phone calls to scam an individual. Offenses include telemarketing fraud or using false information to hijack an individual’s email address.  

Meanwhile, welfare fraud is a common offense type in Maryland. This category involves illegally using state welfare systems by intentionally providing false information or withholding information to obtain more funds than you’re entitled to. Examples include lying about monthly income or deliberately not reporting a change in circumstances to obtain additional funds.  

Colorado is named as the tenth most likely state to commit fraud, with 399 offenses reported by the NIBRS per 100,000 people. Identity theft is the leading category of fraud in Colorado, accounting for 143 crimes.  

Meanwhile, Kentucky is named as the least likely state to commit fraud, with an average of 138 crimes reported by the NIBRS per 100,000 people.  

West Virginia and New York also have low fraud rates, with each state amassing an average of 149 and 158 offenses, respectively.  

Edward Susolik, the CEO and President of Callahan & Blaine, has commented on the study:  

“It’s shocking to see the high fraud rates across the U.S. As online fraud seems to be becoming increasingly prolific, it’s clear that stricter regulations need to be put in place to drastically lower the amount of fraud, especially in the digital age of our society.  

“It should be widespread information that fraud can have severe consequences, such as fines and prison sentences. Even scams circulating on a smaller level, such as email hijacking or phone scams, can result in severe repercussions, and potential scammers must be aware of this. The correct procedure for reporting potential fraud cases should also be common knowledge in each state.  

“It’s also essential to take the correct safety precautions regarding online banking. Implementing multi-factor authentication is a fantastic way to reduce fraudulent transactions, allowing you to spot any suspicious activity quickly.  

“Your social media accounts should also be thoroughly protected, as these are rapidly becoming a common target for scammers regarding account hijacking and impersonation. Staying vigilant and taking immediate action after spotting suspicious activity is essential when it comes to reducing fraud rates”.  

This information was provided by attorneys at Callahan & Blaine.