Credit: Pixabay

Credit: Pixabay

If you're worried about becoming a victim of identity theft and fraud, then don't worry: Florida isn't the No. 1 state where crap like that happens.

We're No. 2.

That rank is according to WalletHub, which conducted a study to determine where Americans are most susceptible to such crimes.

The personal finance website compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: Identity theft, fraud and policy using ten, weighted key metrics like theft and fraud complaints per capita, average loss amount due to online identity theft, e-commerce attack rates, the availability of an identity-theft passport program and more. 

Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most vulnerable. Florida's total score was 69.11 (only Nevada scored higher with a 72.66).

The Sunshine State ranked first in fraud and other complaints per capita and first in the identity-theft passport program. The latter metric considers the presence or absence of programs that help victims of identity theft reclaim their identity.

"When presented to a law-enforcement agency, an 'identity-theft passport' allows a victim to prevent his or her arrest for offenses committed by an identity thief," according to WalletHub. See the state's ranking and a map of the United States below. The full study is available via wallethub.com.

Florida’s Vulnerability to Identity Theft & Fraud (1=Most Vulnerable; 25=Avg.)

  • 3rd – Identity-Theft Complaints per Capita
  • 26th – Avg. Loss Amount Due to Online Identity Theft
  • 1st – Fraud & Other Complaints per Capita
  • 18th – State Security-Freeze Laws for Minors’ Credit Reports
  • 1st – Identity-Theft Passport Program
  • 12th – Persons Arrested for Fraud per Capita
  • 8th – Compliance with REAL ID Act 


Source: WalletHub

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...