US States That Are Scared Of Their Data Being Stolen

A new study by TRG Datacenters conducted a comprehensive analysis across all 50 U.S. states to determine which states are most concerned about data theft.

The study considered factors such as population size, fraud and identity theft crime rates, and the frequency of searches related to “stolen data.”

The states were then ranked using a scoring system on a 1-100 scale, allowing for a clear comparison of their relative levels of concern.

California tops the ranking with a score of 82.7. The state has the most population at 38 million, and ultimately the most number of estimated fraud cases, reaching 350,008 in 2024. The number of estimated identity theft cases is also the highest at 118,225. The state also has the most searches related to “stolen data” totaling more than 34,790.

Florida takes second place with a score of 73.7, reflecting its significant concerns about data security. The state reports the second-highest fraud rate in the country, with 1,200 incidents per 100,000 people, translating to an estimated 275,711 fraud cases in 2024. Additionally, Florida ranks second for identity theft, with 438 cases per 100,000 people, leading to an estimated 100,635 identity theft cases.

Texas ranks third with a score of 69.9. Despite having a slightly lower fraud rate of 800 per 100,000 people, the state’s large population of over 30 million results in an estimated 247,814 fraud cases in 2024. Texas also sees a significant number of identity theft cases, estimated at 108,419, and over 23,000 searches related to “stolen data,” second-highest number of searches.

Georgia comes in fourth with a score of 60. It stands out with the highest identity theft rate in the country at 457 per 100,000 people, translating to an estimated 50,934 identity theft cases in 2024. This high rate indicates Georgia’s particular vulnerability to identity theft.

New York ranks fifth with a score of 58.2. With nearly 20 million residents, New York is projected to have 155,754 fraud cases in 2024, making it one of the states with the highest number of such cases. The state also shows substantial concern with over 23,000 searches related to “stolen data.”

Nevada takes the sixth spot with a score of 48.6. Despite its smaller population, Nevada has the third highest fraud rate of 1,100 per 100,000 people. This results in an estimated 35,320 fraud cases in 2024, reflecting the state’s significant issues with fraud.

Pennsylvania ranks seventh with a score of 48.1. The state has a moderate identity theft rate of 314 per 100,000 people, leading to an estimated 40,667 identity theft cases in 2024. Pennsylvania also shows notable concern with nearly 13,000 searches related to “stolen data.”

Delaware is in eighth place with a score of 47.7. It has the highest fraud rate in the nation at 1,400 per 100,000 people, which is striking given its small population. This translates to 14,620 estimated fraud cases in 2024. On the other hand, the state has the smallest number of estimated identity theft cases In 2024 at 3,749.

Massachusetts ranks ninth with a score of 46.3. The state has an estimated 56,862 fraud cases and 24,640 identity theft cases in 2024, with fraud and identity theft rates of 810 and 351 per 100,000 people, respectively. Massachusetts also sees a significant number of searches related to “stolen data,” totaling over 10,000, reflecting a strong awareness of data security issues.

Illinois rounds out the top ten with a score of 44.9. The state has the lowest fraud rate among the top ten at 510 per 100,000 people, resulting in an estimated 63,836 fraud cases in 2024. Despite this, Illinois still sees over 14,000 searches related to “stolen data,” showing a moderate concern about data security

.A spokesperson from TRG Datacenters commented on the study: “High population states naturally see larger volumes of fraud and identity theft cases, but smaller states like Delaware and Nevada show alarmingly high rates of fraud per capita, underscoring significant regional concerns. The number of searches related to “stolen data” reflects public awareness and the proactive measures being considered by residents to protect their personal information. This study emphasizes the importance of data security as a nationwide concern, with notable differences in how it impacts each state.”