Nevada Suffering 3rd Highest Percentage Of Fraud Cases In U.S.

A recent survey of reported fraud cases reveals that residents of Nevada are suffering through the third highest percentage of these illegal scams. This problem is costing Silver State occupants millions of dollars every year.

Only two states in our nation have a higher percentage of fraud cases reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the past year. These types of illegal scams seem to be happening to our family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers on a more frequent basis.

The survey was conducted recently by the Georgia injury attorney firm Bader Scott. It’s interesting to note that residents of Georgia have reported the highest percentage of fraud cases to the FTC between April 2023 and March 2024.

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Of course, states with higher population density have more reported cases. However, rankings in this survey were determined based on the number of fraud cases per 100,000 residents in each state. Folks in “The Peach State” average 1,605 reported fraud cases for every 100,000 residents.

After Georgia, it’s another southeastern U.S. state which ranks second in this Bader Scott report. Those who live in Florida reported an average of 1,589 fraud cases to the FTC per 100,000 residents. Of the top 10 states with the highest percentage of fraud reports in this survey, Florida also had the largest number of cases. A total of 359,322 cases in the previously mentioned time frame.

Here in Nevada, there were 48,949 fraud cases sent into the Federal Trade Commission from April 2023 through March 2024. That’s an average of 1,532 fraud reports per 100,000 residents. Certainly, this is not a list on which we’re happy to place third.

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Rounding out the top 10 states with the highest percentage of illegal scam cases per 100,000 residents are Delaware (#4), Maryland (#5), Arizona (#6), Pennsylvania (#7), Illinois (#8), South Carolina (#9), and New Jersey (#10).

On the flip side of this coin, the state with the lowest percentage of reported fraud cases is South Dakota. Other states with low percentages of illegal scams sent to the FTC include North Dakota (#2), Iowa (#3), Idaho (#4), and Kentucky (#5).

Some of the reasons Seth Bader of Bader Scott points to for high percentage of fraud among residents include financial vulnerability, and states with older populations. Now, more than ever, we all need to be vigilant.

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Scams are a scary thing, so you should know these new scams that are trending. It's easy to think that you could never fall for a scam, but the truth is that scammers are getting better and better and what they're doing, so it's getting more difficult to stay safe.

Before we get into the new scams that are trending, it's worth reminding ourselves of some age-old scams. Some scam artists just keep doing the same thing, and they keep getting successful results. The IRS has some good information out about tax-related scams and how to avoid them. On the agency's official website, they warn that seniors are often targeted in scams. This was true years ago and is still true. On their site, they warn taxpayers not to fall for scams targeting older adults. "Scammers pretending to be government officials, aim to steal sensitive personal information and money," they state. "By posing as representatives from agencies such as the IRS, or other government agencies, these fraudsters use fear and deceit to exploit their victims."

Another big scam that's been around forever is scammers claiming their services are needed to settle with the IRS and "that their debts can be settled for 'pennies-on-the-dollar' or that there is a limited window of time to resolve tax debts through the Offer in Compromise (OIC) program." The IRS says "these promoters are often referred to as 'OIC Mills.'" In a release, the IRS adds that an Offer in Compromise "mill" will "usually make outlandish claims, frequently in radio and TV ads, about how they can settle a person's tax debt for cheap. In reality, the promoter fees are often excessive, and taxpayers pay the OIC mill to get the same deal they could have received on their own by working directly with the IRS. This takes unnecessary money out of the taxpayer's wallet."

"Too often, we see some unscrupulous promoters mislead taxpayers into thinking they can magically get rid of a tax debt," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement. "This is a legitimate IRS program, but there are specific requirements for people to qualify. People desperate for help can make a costly mistake if they clearly don't qualify for the program. Before using an aggressive promoter, we encourage people to review readily available IRS resources to help resolve a tax debt on their own without facing hefty fees."

Now, let's move onto the new scams to avoid.

The AARP warns of a new scam called the "check cooking scam." The AARP states, "In check cooking, thieves take a digital picture of a stolen check and then use commercially available software to alter it." It can look super real, but it's fake. So, how do you stay safe? "Consider using a safer payment method, such as a credit card," they suggest.

The AARP states also warns of a new sweepstakes scam where "instead of trying to get you to pay taxes or other fees in advance to collect the nonexistent prize, the scammers will ask for personal information so that they can validate you and set up the payout." Just say no.

These days, AI scams are big. Experian.com says today, scammers use technology to "write more convincing and natural-sounding phishing emails and text messages." They can also "Impersonate the victim's friend or relative and ask for money as part of a grandparent scam." It's scary stuff. Beware of anything that sounds too crazy, as these can often seem far-fetched, but AI makes them look real.

Experian.com says that student loan forgiveness scams are on the rise. They note that, "scammers may contact you via phone or create phony application sites aimed at stealing your Social Security number or your bank account information." Don't give out your information. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

This one is really wild. With the games on the way, scammers can use the games to scam you. The AARP states, "A scammer hacks someone's email account, and shortly after, all of that person's contacts will receive the same message — something to the effect of, 'Hey guys, I'm over in Paris and my wallet got stolen! Can anyone please help me out by sending gift cards or a Venmo deposit?"

Whether the scam is new or old, the best way to avoid it is to stop and think about what's happening. These scam artists are super good at what they do, but if you just stop for a moment and really think out any actions, you can avoid making a rash decision that could cost you.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC. Follow us: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram