Title: Georgia Ranked Fifth in Financial Fraud Cases with Over $33 Million Losses in Q1 2023

Georgia’s Financial Vulnerability

According to a report by Forbes Advisor, Georgia ranks fifth in the US for financial fraud incidents in Q1 2023. The report analyzed data from the Federal Trade Commission and revealed:

13,946 financial fraud incidents in Georgia
Staggering loss of $33.4 million
437 incidents per 100,000 people

Types of Financial Fraud in Georgia

Imposter scams were the most common form of financial fraud in Georgia, accounting for:

$26.7 million in losses
Scammers posed as trusted individuals or organizations

National Financial Fraud Trends

Nationally, the US saw:

$8.8 billion in financial fraud losses
30% increase from 2021
Most vulnerable demographic: people in their 60s (lost $234 million)
Younger generations also affected: $97 million losses for those in their 20s and $197 million for those in their 30s

New Scam Tactics in Georgia

Scammers in Atlanta and across the US are evolving their tactics:

AI voice scam phone calls: An attacker pretended to be a crying daughter to extort ransom from her mother in Cherokee County.
Fake QR code stickers: Scammers placed fraudulent QR codes in Midtown parking garages, redirecting funds to their accounts.
Job scams: In one instance, a Georgia State University graduate lost significant funds when scammers offered her a job, gained access to her bank account, and drained it.

Staying Protected

The victim advised Georgians to:

Triple-check everything
Follow your gut instincts

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