What scam types most target Florida residents?

Florida residents face elevated risk in four primary scam categories: senior-targeted fraud (highest 65+ population), Medicare fraud (Florida is #1 nationally), tourist scams (heavy tourism economy), and hurricane disaster fraud (recurring seasonal cycle).

Florida Scams 2026: The State's Most Dangerous Frauds Explained

Q: Why is Florida #1 for scams in the United States?

Florida has the highest fraud and identity theft reports per capita of any U.S. state. The state's large senior population (highest 65+ percentage in the country), heavy tourism economy, hurricane disaster cycles, and high concentration of new residents combine to create exceptional scammer targeting density.

Q: How much did Floridians lose to scams in 2024?

Floridians reported $866.1 million in fraud losses in 2024 according to the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network. The state also recorded 115,840 identity theft incidents — the most per capita in the nation.

Q: Where can I report a scam in Florida?

Report scams to: Florida Attorney General Consumer Protection (1-866-9NO-SCAM or myfloridalegal.com), Federal Trade Commission (reportfraud.ftc.gov), FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov), and your local sheriff's office. For Medicare-specific fraud, contact Senior Medicare Patrol Florida (1-866-357-6677).

Florida ranks #1 in the United States for both fraud and identity theft per capita. Here's what's hitting Floridians hardest, why, and what to do about it.

$866M

Lost by Floridians to fraud in 2024

115,840

ID theft incidents reported in FL (2024)

State ranking, fraud per capita

2,000+

Fraud reports per 100,000 residents

Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024, published March 2025.

Why Florida Is the Country's #1 Scam Target

Florida's fraud problem isn't accidental — it's structural. Four demographic and economic factors combine to create the highest scammer-targeting density in the United States:

Factor	Why It Matters
Senior Population	Florida has the highest percentage of residents 65+ in the U.S. (21.6%). Seniors are 1.5x more likely to be targeted, and 3x more likely to lose money once targeted.
Tourism Economy	140 million annual visitors create an enormous pool of unfamiliar buyers who scammers exploit through fake vacation rentals, theme park ticket scams, and "tourist taxi" overcharging.
Hurricane Disaster Cycles	Florida averages 5-7 hurricane warnings annually. Each disaster spawns fake FEMA emails, fraudulent contractors, and storm-related identity theft schemes.
New Resident Flow	Florida gains 1,000+ new residents daily. New arrivals don't know local fraud patterns, don't have established Florida ID/credit systems, and are frequent identity theft targets.

The Four Florida-Specific Scam Categories

While generic online scams hit Floridians (phishing, romance scams, BNPL fraud — all covered in our articles), four scam categories disproportionately target Florida residents. We have a dedicated page for each:

National Scams Hitting Florida Hard

Florida also leads the nation in several scam categories that affect everyone, but disproportionately hit Floridians:

How to Report a Scam in Florida

If you've been targeted or victimized by a scam in Florida, report to the following agencies. Reports help build the case database that powers enforcement:

Agency	Contact	When to Use
Florida Attorney General	1-866-9NO-SCAM myfloridalegal.com	Any Florida-based scam, especially consumer protection violations
FTC Consumer Sentinel	reportfraud.ftc.gov	Federal fraud reports; enters national database
FBI IC3	ic3.gov	Internet-based fraud over $10K or interstate/international
Senior Medicare Patrol FL	1-866-357-6677	Medicare-specific fraud
Local Sheriff's Office	Vary by county	In-person scams, immediate threats, scams under $10K

Tools to Protect Yourself in Florida

Beyond reporting, prevention matters. We've built free protection tools because Floridians shouldn't have to pay for safety:

The Nudge Extension gives every website a real-time trust score before you shop, click, or enter information. Built for regular people. No paywall. No account. No data collection. Add to Chrome →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Florida #1 for scams in the United States?

Florida combines the highest senior population percentage in the country (21.6% over 65), 140M annual tourists, recurring hurricane disaster cycles, and the fastest growing in-migration of any state. Each factor creates scammer-targeting density. Together, they make Florida the country's most-defrauded state per capita.

How much did Floridians lose to scams in 2024?

$866.1 million in reported fraud losses, plus 115,840 identity theft incidents. Actual losses are estimated 3-4x higher due to underreporting — many victims, especially seniors, never file reports out of embarrassment or fear.

What's the most common scam in Florida right now?

Imposter scams (someone pretending to be a government agency, business, or relative) are #1 by report count. Investment scams have the highest dollar losses. Among seniors specifically, Medicare fraud and tech support scams dominate.

What should I do immediately if I've been scammed in Florida?

Within 24 hours: (1) Stop any pending transfers. Call your bank's fraud line immediately. (2) Change passwords on any accounts the scammer may have touched. (3) File reports with Florida AG (1-866-9NO-SCAM) and FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov). (4) Place a fraud alert with all three credit bureaus. (5) If $10K+ or interstate, also report to FBI IC3.

Are scams worse in certain Florida counties?

Miami-Dade leads in business email compromise and real estate wire fraud. The Villages and SW Florida (Sarasota, Naples, Fort Myers) have the highest per-capita senior fraud rates. Orlando and Daytona Beach see elevated tourist scam volume. Tampa Bay leads in identity theft per capita within Florida.

Where can I report a scam in Florida?

Florida Attorney General Consumer Protection: 1-866-9NO-SCAM or myfloridalegal.com. FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov. FBI IC3 for internet crimes over $10K: ic3.gov. For Medicare fraud specifically: Senior Medicare Patrol Florida at 1-866-357-6677. For immediate threats or in-person scams, call your local sheriff's office.