California ranks 7th nationally for the rate of cybercrime complaints. Photo courtesy of Freepik

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - New research has revealed the states where residents are most likely to fall victim to cybercrime. California ranks 7th nationally for the rate of cybercrime complaints, with 244 reports per 100,000 people. The state incurred the highest total financial losses from cybercrime in the entire nation, amounting to $2,539,041,635. The average loss per victim in California was significantly high at $26,376.

The study by Click Insights analyzed 2024 data from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) to determine which states had the highest number of cybercrime complaints per 100,000 residents, along with the financial impact of these crimes per victim.

Cybercrime complaints are complaints to the Internet Crime Complaint Center in regards to any criminal activity that involves a computer, computer network, or digital device, where data or money is stolen, or harm is caused. Examples may include credit card fraud, government impersonation scams, personal data breaches, phishing, and cryptocurrency scams.

The losses per victim in California average $26,376.

James Owen, co-founder of Click Insights, commented on the findings: "These results highlight how serious the cybercrime threat has become across the United States. The FBI reported over 859,000 internet crime complaints in 2024, with total losses surpassing $16 billion, a nearly $4 billion jump from the year before. Alaska’s rate of 915 complaints per 100,000 residents is especially notable against that fact, showing that smaller or more remote states are not immune to digital risks. Even in states with fewer reports, like Wyoming, where victims lost an average of $31,592 each, the financial damage can still be devastating."

Data was gathered from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2024 Report, which provides state-by-state information on cybercrime complaints and financial losses.

Population figures were used to calculate the number of complaints per 100,000 residents in each state to determine relative risk levels.

Total financial losses and average losses per victim were also analyzed to provide a comprehensive picture of cybercrime impact across the United States.

For more information about the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, visit: -https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2024_IC3Report.pdf

To learn more about Click Insights visit: https://insights.clickintelligence.com/.