The U.S. Federal Trade Commission tracks fraud cases of all stripes and, as you might expect, cybercrime is a major source of financial loss for consumers — particularly in Florida, which in 2025 ranked 11th nationwide in incidents of what the FTC calls "malware and computer exploits." Floridians last year reported 4,168 such incidents, which might not seem like a lot, given the state's large and rapidly growing population, but scammers made off with more than $6.3 million — a financial loss of more than $1,500 per person. That's a higher average hit to the wallet than other fraud hotspots such as California and Texas.
At the same time, fraudsters' targets and tactics have rapidly evolved as online shopping and online payment services become commonplace. In Florida, residents between the ages of 20 and 29 were hit hard in 2025, with scammers defrauding them of more than $12.9 million. The median loss was $400, down from $499 in 2024, but what's striking is the sharp rise in fraud reports — 8,612 in 2024 compared to 10,456 in 2025, an increase of 21% — among that age group.
According to the FTC, young adults are "four times more likely than older adults to report a loss on an investment scam," citing "bogus cryptocurrency investment opportunities" as the primary culprit. Advertisements on social media platforms also contributed to the growing number of young adults who've fallen prey to cyber criminals, the FTC says, adding that the 20-29 age group is prone to being duped by fake job offers, as well.
Also of note: Scams perpetrated against the 20-29 set were more likely to succeed than those targeting older populations. Out of the 10,456 incidents of fraud reported by 20- to 29-year-olds in 2025, 34.8% resulted in financial loss. Floridians in the 60-69 age group reported the most incidents of fraud, at 16,834, but just over a quarter, 25.6%, were successful.