You can’t scam the scammer: Georgians named among the least likely to be scammed in the U.S. | #cybercrime | #infosec

 – 
Staff Writer

 · 
July 15, 2026

A new study conducted by Duelbits reveals the ten U.S. states that are the least likely to be scammed in an online scam. And Georgia ranks among the least likely to fall for online scamming. Keep scrolling to see what that means for us… and how to continue to stay safe.

Online scams

When it comes to online scams, in total Americans lose nearly $16.6 billion annually, according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. This terrifyingly high number should definitely raise concern… and encourage internet-users to always proceed with caution online.

In conducting research on which states are the most likely to fall for online scams, Duelbits’ data revealed that Georgians are the ninth least vulnerable to online scams in America, receiving a scam awareness score of 64.05 out of 100.

Here’s how the top 10 LEAST likely to be scammed states go:

1. Mississippi
2. Arkansas
3. Oklahoma
4. South Dakota
5. Idaho
6. West Virginia
7. Louisiana
8. Utah
9. Georgia
10. Kansas

According to the study,

Georgia ranking among the least scam prone states shows that fewer people living alone, a younger population and less of a reliance on dating apps all help to record a below average cybercrime victim rate. However, with Georgians spending more money online than the national average and receiving a higher volume of spam calls, it remains essential to question unexpected calls, emails and messages before sharing personal or financial information.

How did they find this data?

The study analyzed all 50 US states against 9 factors to provide an overall score out of 100. Factors and sources include: 

• Percentage of each state’s population aged 65 and over – sourced from Care Patrol 
• Single-person-household percentage – sourced from Statista 
• Percentage of teleworkers who work remotely – sourced from Patriots Software
• Online spending per person – sourced from Capital One Shopping
• Cybercrime rate of each state – sourced from Security Org 
• Search volume for online scams (over 100 related terms), love scams (over 20 related terms), and dating apps (Tinder Hinge, Grindr, Match) – sourced from from Google Ads Keyword Planner
• Spam call data – sourced from True Caller
• People who live alone or experience feelings of isolation are four times more likely to fall victim to fraud, according to This is Money 

How do I stay safe against online scams?

Of course, scammers can be very smart, so if you’ve fallen for a scam before, it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. But there ARE some tips to help you stay a little safer when you’re online:

1. listen to your gut – if something seems ‘off’ about a message or call, don’t engage. Scammers are usually pretty good at making things seem real. For example a text that says ‘you have a package waiting for pickup at a warehouse’ might seem legit if you’ve recently ordered something. But think… has that ever been the case before? No, probably not. If you’re not sure–call the company DIRECTLY and never click the link. The same goes for those ‘toll fee’ and ‘outstanding ticket’ texts. Check through a trusted source to see if you have a payment due… NOT by clicking the link.
2. talk to your family and friends – if something seems like it might be a scam, ask your family or friends. Chances are, they’ve gotten that exact same message, and then you know it’s a scam. If you get a call or an email FROM a ‘friend’ or ‘family’ asking for money… give them a call back to see if it’s really them.
3. protect your accounts – make unique passwords for your accounts, full of letters, symbols and numbers. You don’t want your password to be guess-able.
4. check for credit card skimmers – this is usually a sticker or devise that’s attached to credit card readers, sometimes found at gas stations and stores. Before you tap/insert/swipe your card, check the device for loose/broken/scratched machinery to make sure someone hasn’t tampered with it. If you’re not sure, talk to the cashier.
5. keep up with your bank & credit card statements – verify that all the charges are purchases you made, and report anything fishy right away!

Stay safe, Atlanta! And keep up the good work as one of the least-scammed states in the U.S.!