CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Ohio ranked fifth in the US in internet crime last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the FBI.
Indiana ranked 16th and Kentucky was 31st.
Americans lost $12.5 billion to online fraud cases – up from only $3.5 billion five years ago and up 22 percent from 2022 to 2023.
Ohio recorded $197 million in losses last year while Indiana lost $160 million and Kentucky lost $48 million.
David Hatter, a tech expert, said people often make it easy for online criminals to take advantage of them. He said law enforcement and people who use the internet must make changes for the numbers to go down.
“I think it will increase until there’s a way to make these people stop and people get wise to how easy it is to run these scams,” Hatter said. “People need to be more skeptical and careful and follow good security practices.”
Phishing scams were the most reported form of internet crime. Hatter said people should be aware of using QR codes and to make sure they know where they’re coming from.
“The bad guys know there’s no way to look at a QC code and know it’s not legitimate,” Hatter said.
People over the age of 60 filed the most complaints and lost $3.4 billion across the country last year.
The FBI said people who want to learn more to identify online fraud and potential scams to visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
