Cybercrime Hotspots - Who Gets Hit the Most with Online Fraud?

As the internet grows smarter, so do those who look to exploit it. Cybercrime continues to get more sophisticated year on year. According to the latest FBI Internet Crime Report, reported losses in the US alone exceeded $12.5 billion, while global cybercrime costs are projected to hit a staggering $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.

We’ve analyzed the latest data to determine where you are most at risk. Which state sees the most digital dishonesty, and is the USA a bigger online crime hotspot than the UK?

Our data reveals all.

1 in 5 people are victim to cybercrime

As we showed in our state of cybercrime report, a staggering 1 in 5 people have been a victim of cybercrime, meaning you’ve got a 20% chance of being caught out yourself. But where are these crimes happening and who loses more than anyone else?

California is the cybercrime capital of the world

The state of California falls victim to cybercrime more than anywhere else. Latest data shows the Golden State lost over $2.1 billion to online fraud in a single year is the highest in the nation. The average loss per victim has skyrocketed due to investment scams and tech support fraud.

California beats Florida into second, who’ve lost almost half as much with $293,445,963 (£220,084,472) falling into online criminals’ hands. Florida’s loss per victim is also slightly lower, not that $10,926 is money many people can afford to go without.

Close behind in third place is Ohio, where $264,663,456 (£198,497,592) has been taken through cybercrime. However, when it comes to the amount each victim has seen stolen, the figure is much higher. Cyber criminals there take on average $28,734 (£21,295), leaving Ohio’s victims more out of pocket than both California and Florida combined.

Cybercrime victims in Ohio lose more than anywhere else

Ohio tops our table for the amount victims see stolen... However, smaller states are not safe. Wyoming sees average losses of $11,097 (£14,974), proving that lower population density doesn't deter digital thieves.

They beat off competition from Wyoming, where $11097 (£14,974) is taken on average, almost half as much as is stolen in Ohio.

In third place is Utah, where victims have an average of $14,229 (£10,545) stolen through online fraud.

The only place in the UK to come anywhere near the top of the charts is Jersey. The Channel Island, sitting between England and France, sees cyber criminals take $11,244 (£8,333), making residents pay for the warmer climates and coastal views.

Capital cities see cybercrime savings

While New York and London might be the respective capitals (and financial capitals) of their countries, in terms of cybercrime they fare relatively well. New York has lost a considerable $19,876,576 (£14,907,432) to online fraud, but that’s only an average of $516 (£697) per victim. London, on the other hand, has seen $6,071,985 (£4,500,000) stolen, with a moderate average of $1,049 (£777) being taken each time.

South East of England loses more cybercrime than rest of UK

In England, you have to head to the South East to find the most expensive online crime activity. The region has lost £1,300,000 ($1,754,129) to cyber criminals, almost double the amount lost in the West Midlands (£647,000/ $873,016) and much more than Wales, who’ve only lost £252,800 ($341,110) as a whole country.

Somerset has UK’s highest percentage of cybercrime victims

In the postcard-pretty county of Somerset, not all is at it seems. Inside the thatched cottages and stone-built houses, 0.136% of residents have been a victim of online deception - the highest amount in the whole of the UK.

Northumbria comes in a close second, with 0.134% of residents being victims, while Dorset comes in third with 0.09% falling into online traps. With our top three regions all being rural areas, criminals could be seeing their older demographics as easy prey.

More urban areas such as London (0.05%) and Greater Manchester (0.04%) came much lower down on our list, despite their higher prevalence of technology and financial industries.

The stress of cybercrime

Whether it’s money, your passwords or your personal data that is being stolen, the toll it takes can be much more than a financial burden. According to a report published by the University of Portsmouth, who looked into the mental impact of online scams, over 75% of victims claim to have suffered stress as a result of the crimes committed against them. A further 70% have suffered from anxiety, with the fear of the same thing happening again weighing heavy on their minds. Other mental issues include fear (52%), shame (51%), anger (48%) and isolation (43%), as the ease at which cyber crooks can steal your data causes people to fear every action they take online.

The lack of support available doesn’t help. When asked, 57% of Brits told us that reporting issues to their local government had seen no response, while 37% of Americans said the same. Meanwhile, only 21% of people in the UK felt the legal system would help them in cases of cybercrime, while a staggering 55% of Americans felt their law enforcement was letting them down online.

How can you battle online fraud?

Cyber criminals use sophisticated methods to steal your data, but you can fight back with a dedicated anti-spy solution designed for mobile devices.

Clario Anti Spy goes beyond basic antivirus to provide comprehensive digital protection:

• 24/7 Human Assistance: Chat live with Clario Anti Spy’s security experts any time, day or night, for personalized help with digital stalking or tech abuse.
• Hidden App Scan: Uncover malicious apps or surveillance software that are disguised or have suspicious permissions on your device.
• Data Breach Monitor: Continuously check if your personal data (emails, passwords, financial info) has been leaked online and get help fixing the breach.
• Unlock Catcher: Secretly take a photo of anyone who attempts to unlock your device without your consent.
• Anti-spy Setup: Get a personalized checklist to apply essential privacy settings and secure your device against potential spying threats.

Methodology

Using a combination of government, ONS and census data we gathered the population for individual US states and UK counties, and then using open crime data from local constabularies and police forces used the number of victims of cybersecurity related crimes, and divided to calculate the amount of victims per 1000 of population. For the financial losses, we used data from the FBI 2024 Internet Crime Report and UK police data to get monetary loss related to cyber crime for each American State and UK policing region. These figures were then divided by the population of the relevant area in order to calculate the average loss per victim.

FAQ

1. Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) make cybercrime worse in 2025?

Yes, significantly. AI has become a major force for cybercriminals, enabling them to launch attacks that are more convincing, scalable, and sophisticated. Generative AI tools are now used to create highly personalized, grammatically perfect phishing emails and develop new malicious code faster. This lowers the skill barrier for new criminals, leading to a projected global cost of cybercrime reaching over $10.5 trillion by 2025.

2. What are the subtle signs that my phone might be infected with spyware?

The key signs of infection include: rapid battery drainage (the spyware runs 24/7), unexpected phone overheating (due to background data transmission), and sudden, unexplained spikes in mobile data usage. 

Look for strange noises on phone calls or unfamiliar apps with generic names like "System Update." Dedicated tools like Clario Anti Spy are designed to find these hidden threats.

3. Can scammers steal my data just by knowing my phone number?

Generally, no. They cannot install spyware just with a number. However, they can use it to send "Smishing" (SMS phishing) links. If you click that link, infection is possible.

Conclusion

Cybercrime is a costly, evolving reality. As criminals use AI and high-stakes scams, proactive, simplified defense is essential. The time for confusing, manual security is over. Clario Anti Spy is your complete solution. With unique 24/7 human assistance, Hidden App Scan, and Data Breach Monitor, Clario Anti Spy ensures you gain control and peace of mind. Secure your device with Clario Anti Spy today and reclaim your digital life.