3. Florida
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 217.4
> Total identity theft complaints: 44,063 (2nd highest)
> Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 1,510 (the highest)
> Avg. amount stolen: $1,050 (22nd highest)

Counting all types of fraud, including identity theft, debt collection, impostor scams, prizes, sweepstakes, lotteries, as well as bank and lending frauds, Florida is far and away the national leader. There were 1,510 reported cases of overall fraud per 100,000 Floridians. Of the 350,196 fraud complaints, 44,063 were cases of identity theft, or 217.4 complaints per 100,000 state residents — the third highest identity theft rate of all states. Elderly communities in Florida, home to a growing number of retirees, may be especially at high risk of fraud. Nationwide, Americans 50 years old and over account for nearly 60% of all fraud cases. This could likely, at least in part, explain the high fraud incidence in the Sunshine State.

2. Connecticut
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 225.0
> Total identity theft complaints: 8,078 (18th highest)
> Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 554 (22nd lowest)
> Avg. amount stolen: $1,182 (11th highest)

Like in most states, government documents or benefits schemes were the most popular identity stealing method in Connecticut. These types of fraud, which frequently take the form of fraudulent tax filings, accounted for 64% of all reported cases of identity theft in the state.

Identity theft and fraud are always costly to victims, and in these 10 states the impact is certainly larger. The average amount stolen from a victim of identity theft in Connecticut of $1,182 exceeded the national average of amount lost of $1,154. The higher financial loss could be partially due to the high incomes in Connecticut. The typical Connecticut household earns $69,899 annually, the fourth highest median household income nationwide.

1. Missouri
> Identity theft complaints per 100,000: 364.3
> Total identity theft complaints: 22,164 (5th highest)
> Fraud and other complaints per 100,000: 609 (17th highest)
> Avg. amount stolen: $931 (18th lowest)

For every 100,000 Missouri residents, victims of fraud in the state reported 364.3 cases of identity theft, the highest incidence of the crime of all states. The average case of fraud in Missouri cost the victim $931. This is not especially high compared to other states or to the national average amount stolen of $1,154.

Fraud complaints are more common in metropolitan areas than they are across states. St. Louis is far and away the nation’s leader in identity theft crimes, with 684 cases of identity theft reported for every 100,000 city residents. The California-Lexington Park, Maryland area is a distant second, with 357 per 100,000 residents reported.