A new review of identity theft reveals that the Southern states dominate identity theft rankings, with Georgia and Florida taking the top spots. South Dakota has the lowest rate with just 91.38 reports per 100,000 residents, five times lower than Georgia.
The study was conducted by the Whitley Law Firm, who analysed FBI crime data to determine which states had the highest and lowest rates of identity theft per 100,000 residents in 2024.
The top 10 states with the highest identity theft rates
| State | Identity Theft Reports per 100,000 Residents | |
| 1 | Georgia | 500.45 |
| 2 | Florida | 495.63 |
| 3 | Nevada | 447.78 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 380.33 |
| 5 | Delaware | 374.74 |
| 6 | Texas | 372.26 |
| 7 | California | 354.20 |
| 8 | Louisiana | 347.80 |
| 9 | Illinois | 338.53 |
| 10 | Maryland | 319.16 |
The statistics show that Georgia reported 55,955 identity theft cases in 2024 and the total rate per 100,000 residents stands at 500.45, showing a rate significantly higher than (1,843% above) the national average (25.75 cases per 100,000).
Florida ranks second with 495.63 reports per 100,000 residents, representing 115,840 total cases. In Nevada, the total number of identity theft reports was 14,631, while the rate per 100,000 residents came to 447.78, placing it third nationwide. Massachusetts ranks fourth with 27,141 reports and a rate of 380.33 per 100,000 residents. The state was one of only two Democratic-voting states in the top five. Delaware completes the top five with 3,942 reports, equating to 374.74 per 100,000.
Texas ranks sixth with 372.26 reports per 100,000 residents, followed by California with 354.20 reports per 100,000 residents. These two states reported the highest total number of cases at 116,484 and 139,665 respectively.
The southern state of Louisiana ranked eighth with 347.80 reports per 100,000 residents. Illinois and Maryland rounded out the top ten with rates of 338.53 and 319.16 per 100,000 residents respectively.
The 10 states with the lowest identity theft rates
| State | Identity Theft Reports per 100,000 Residents | |
| 1 | Minnesota | 125.67 |
| 2 | Maine | 124.27 |
| 3 | Iowa | 120.90 |
| 4 | Wyoming | 118.61 |
| 5 | Idaho | 118.25 |
| 6 | North Dakota | 116.00 |
| 7 | West Virginia | 113.96 |
| 8 | Alaska | 105.39 |
| 9 | Vermont | 100.39 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 91.38 |
On the opposite end of the scale, the study found much lower rates of identity theft in less populated states. South Dakota has the lowest rate in the nation with just 91.38 reports per 100,000 residents, more than five times lower than Georgia. Vermont ranks second-lowest with 100.39 reports per 100,000 residents and just 651 total reports. Alaska ranks third-lowest with 105.39 reports per 100,000 residents and 780 total cases.
West Virginia and North Dakota complete the bottom five with rates of 113.96 and 116.00 per 100,000 residents respectively. Both states reported fewer than 2,020 total cases despite their different geographic locations.
