RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A new study shows Virginia is one of the states hit the hardest by online scammers.
Criminals have ramped up their efforts since the pandemic and they’re finding new victims by utilizing innovative scam schemes.
The online investigation service, Social Catfish, released a new study about online scams and it shows the United States is in the midst of a growing crisis. The company conducted polls, and interviews and analyzed FBI data. It found that in 2021, Americans lost a record $6.9 billion to online scammers — that’s up from $3.5 billion in 2019.
Social Catfish CEO David McClellan says the pandemic changed the game.
“People had extra disposable income during COVID. So, you know, they were at home more. They were talking online to people longer. One of the biggest issues with people being scammed online is, you know, people are either lonely or they make decisions in a quick manner.”
Virginians were hit hard. The study says the Commonwealth is the eighth most scammed state. Last year, Virginians lost $181,622,993 to scammers. The average victim in Virginia lost $14,660.
“People are very trusting online a lot more nowadays versus what they were even five years ago,” McClellan said.
Over the past five years, tech-savvy teens and children have seen the…
