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# The States Where Seniors Are Getting Hit Hardest by Cyberchrime
- URL: https://www.smartseniordaily.com/the-states-where-seniors-are-getting-hit-hardest-by-cyberchrime/
- Published: 2026-08-29T13:11:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-29T13:11:01.000Z
- Description: The scammers’ favorite targets have retirement savings — and they lost nearly $7.75 billion last year
- Author: Gary P Guthrie
- Tags: Scams

Take a look at any of [Smart Senior Daily's scam alerts](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/tag/scam-alerts/) and it's easy to see that scammers have figured out where the money is. And, no, it isn’t hiding under a mattress.

**Americans age 60 and older filed 201,266 internet-crime complaints in 2025 and reported losing nearly $7.75 billion,** according to the FBI’s latest Internet Crime Report. That works out to **an average loss of about $38,500 per complaint—enough** to buy a new car or put a nasty hole in someone’s retirement.

The gulp-sized losses were up 59% from 2024, too. Complaints jumped 37%.

[**All About Cookies**](https://allaboutcookies.org/states-highest-cybercrime-seniors?ref=smartseniordaily.com) took the FBI’s data a step further, combining state complaint figures with U.S. Census population estimates to find where older Americans reported cybercrime most often.

And the [rankings](https://allaboutcookies.org/states-highest-cybercrime-seniors?ref=smartseniordaily.com) contain a few surprises.

## Arizona Tops the Cybercrime Complaint List

California, Texas and Florida accounted for the highest number of raw complaints. That makes sense since they have a ton of people.

But when you factor in the size of each state’s 60-and-older population, a different group is first in line.

**Arizona and all its snowbirds won the blue ribbon for being the highest rate in the nation, with 501.2 complaints per 100,000 older residents**. **Alaska** followed with 422.3, **Utah** at 398.1, **Nevada** at 384.1 and the **District of Columbia** are right behind at 312.9.

**Coming in last on the list was Mississippi**, with 131.8 complaints per 100,000 seniors.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d9/1a/d91a71e8-ed81-4ec8-8028-ec14ba129b35/content/images/2026/08/image-13.png)

Does that mean old Mississippians can put their feet up and quit worrying? Guess again.

These are *reported* complaints, not a count of every scam that happened. Victims don’t always report fraud, sometimes because they’re embarrassed, don’t know where to report it or don’t think the money can be recovered. Factor in that and this metric could double or maybe triple.

Complaint rates also measure frequency as opposed to financial damage. And when it comes to damage, the map changes yet again.

[Scam of the Week: Watch Out for Two SSA Impersonation Scams Now SurgingThe most vulnerable are those 80 and older + those who have dementia/Alzheimer’s. Here’s how to protect them.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d9/1a/d91a71e8-ed81-4ec8-8028-ec14ba129b35/content/images/icon/SSD-FavIcon1-bead19a2-0900-4145-895b-7b0c1375dfce.png)Smart Senior DailySmart Senior Daily Staff![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d9/1a/d91a71e8-ed81-4ec8-8028-ec14ba129b35/content/images/thumbnail/Scam-of-the-week--1-f0ed9f4c-dde9-43c0-9400-4e2e10a86675.png)](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/scam-of-the-week-watch-out-for-fake-call-transfer-tricks-ssa-impersonation-scams-are-surging/)

## California Victims Lost More Than $63,000 per Complaint

AllAboutCookies' researchers determined that **older Californians reported an average loss of $63,365 per complaint, the highest of any state.** **New Jersey** was next at $60,766, followed by **Hawaii** at $60,399, **New York** at $47,879 and **Texas** at $47,090.

California’s total losses alone topped $1.4 billion. Florida victims reported another $709.8 million, and Texas victims lost $678.6 million.

That is the cruel math of cybercrime: The most common scam isn’t necessarily the one that does the most damage.

## Phishing Gets the Clicks. Investment Scams Get the Cash. 

[Phishing and spoofing](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/senior-ai-trick-1-how-to-verify-a-email-from-a-major-brand-and-prevent-a-scam/) were the most frequently reported crimes among older Americans, generating 48,064 complaints, with a take-home average for the scammers of $1,602\. Painful, for sure, but peanuts compared with the category at the top of the money chart: investment scams.

**Investment scams produced 16,926 complaints and $3.52 billion in reported losses. The average was a staggering $207,923 per complaint.**

Why do investment scams do so much damage? They are rarely a one-and-done theft. The [scammer builds trust](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/do-you-think-youre-smart-enough-to-stop-a-scammer/), displays a phony account balance, and keeps on prodding its victims, asking for larger deposits. By the time the victim tries to withdraw those supposed profits, the money (and their helpful new investment buddy) are long gone.

The FBI says [artificial intelligence](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/scary-new-granny-deepfake-scam/) is also helping criminals create more convincing messages, images, audio and video. The agency found that 12,444 complainants age 60 and older lost more than $100,000 apiece in 2025.

That isn’t walking-around money. For many families, it is money that can’t be earned back.

[Senior AI Trick #1: How to Verify a Email From a Major Brand and Prevent a ScamIncluded: the 30-second, 2-step method that can save you from being fleeced![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d9/1a/d91a71e8-ed81-4ec8-8028-ec14ba129b35/content/images/icon/SSD-FavIcon1-1bf88231-98b4-47b1-928d-23eac86f9ec6.png)Smart Senior DailyGary P Guthrie![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d9/1a/d91a71e8-ed81-4ec8-8028-ec14ba129b35/content/images/thumbnail/Email-scam-1-febfa17b-7a5a-401f-acbc-240d65772fc7.jpg)](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/senior-ai-trick-1-how-to-verify-a-email-from-a-major-brand-and-prevent-a-scam/)

## Put a Speed Bump in the Scammer's Way 

The App Store might make one think that there are apps that can make every scam disappear, but they're talking out of the sides of their mouths. **The best protection is to slow down and bring another person into the conversation.**

**SSD's two best preventative steps are these:**

- Hang up and call the bank, retailer, or government agency using a number you find yourself. Never move money to “protect” it, and be suspicious of anyone demanding cryptocurrency, gift cards, a wire transfer, cash or gold.
- If a supposed relative calls with an emergency, call that person back on a number you already know. Families can also create a private safe word that an AI voice clone won’t know.

Victims should contact their financial institution immediately, preserve every message and receipt, and report the crime at [IC3.gov](https://www.ic3.gov/?ref=smartseniordaily.com). Older victims can also call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at **833-372-8311**.

And don’t pile on with blame. Shame keeps victims quiet and gives the criminal more time. The scammer has already taken enough.

[See the complete state rankings and methodology at All About Cookies.](https://allaboutcookies.org/states-highest-cybercrime-seniors?ref=smartseniordaily.com)