New Jersey Top 10 In Financial Losses to Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are constant, and every day several people in New Jersey end up in their net. For many, it’s a life-altering experience that no one wants to go through. Millions are educated and don’t fall for them, but there is still a small percentage who fall prey to these bad actors’ clever tactics.
The criminals don’t expect to catch everyone, just a few here and there to make the effort worthwhile. That’s why it’s called “phishing.” Sometimes you have a good day and catch a lot, and some days are slower, but if you’re the trout that ends up on the hook it’s devastating.
My Parents And the Elderly Are Especially Susceptible
I warn my kids about the various tricks the bad guys try to pull, and they seem to get it. Trying to convince my parents is a bit more difficult, mainly my dad. He’s 88 years old and isn’t tuned into the vast possibilities and capabilities of modern technology.
For instance, he can’t quite seem to get his head around the fact that someone can create a webpage or an email that looks totally official. “They wouldn’t be able to make it look as good as the bank’s,” he’d say. Yes they would, they could and they do.
New Jersey’s Rank For Losses To Phishing Scams
It’s not just the elderly who are being fooled in New Jersey, and that’s why we’re sixth on the list of all states that fall for phishing scams the most. New Jersey’stotal victim loss amounted to $2,852,334, which is $30,800 per 100,000 people.
The folks at CoinJournal.net examined FBI data to find the states with the highest losses due to cybercrimes. They warn that these bad actors are becoming more sophisticated every day, and we need to stay alert and aware of possible phishing scams.
Arkansas was number one, followed by New Hampshire, California, Nevada, Montana, and New Jersey at number six. Connecticut landed at number eight for phishing scam victims.
The main thing I tell my parents is never to give any information to anyone who has contacted you. If they say they’re from the bank, tell them you’ll call them back. They use the number you have, not the number they give you.