New Study Exposes America’s Worst Job Scam Hotspots
Searching for a new job could expose Americans to more than rejection. Fake recruiters and fraudulent listings can cost applicants money, personal information, and, in some cases, their identities.
ShareVault analyzed federal fraud report data to identify where employment scams are reported most often. States were ranked by the number of job scam and employment agency fraud reports per 100,000 residents, allowing states with very different population sizes to be compared fairly.
The findings reflect reported incidents rather than confirmed victim totals, meaning differences in awareness and reporting behavior may also influence the results.
Nevada ranks first, recording 15.27 job scam reports per 100,000 residents. Its tourism- and hospitality-heavy economy creates frequent hiring cycles, while the steady movement of workers in and out of cities such as Las Vegas may make fraudulent recruitment activity harder to distinguish from legitimate opportunities. Colorado ranks second with 13.50 reports per 100,000 residents. Its expanding technology sector and digitally driven labor market mean many applicants first encounter employers online, where scammers can imitate company branding and recruiter profiles.
Arizona ranks third with 13.09 reports per 100,000 residents, narrowly ahead of Georgia in fourth at 13.08. Population growth and active job markets can create a large audience of people searching for work, including recent arrivals who may be unfamiliar with local employers. Atlanta’s position as a major employment hub across logistics, finance, technology and media also gives scammers a wide range of legitimate companies and industries to imitate.
Utah ranks fifth, reporting 12.49 cases per 100,000 residents. With many applications and early-stage interviews taking place online, criminals have more opportunities to approach candidates without meeting them in person. Florida ranks sixth with 12.35 reports per 100,000 residents. Its large and frequently changing population, together with substantial tourism, hospitality and service-sector employment, creates a steady stream of job advertisements into which fraudulent listings can blend.
Delaware ranks seventh with 11.99 reports per 100,000 residents, despite being one of the country’s smaller states. Its location within a major East Coast employment corridor may expose residents to opportunities advertised across several neighboring metropolitan markets, making unfamiliar company names appear more plausible. Texas ranks eighth at 11.75 reports per 100,000 residents. Its enormous and diverse labor market gives scammers numerous industries and employer types to imitate, from technology and energy to health care, construction and logistics.
Tennessee ranks ninth, recording 11.66 reports per 100,000 residents. Growing employment centers such as Nashville attract workers from outside the area, potentially giving fraudsters a larger pool of applicants who do not yet know the local hiring landscape. California completes the top 10 with 11.24 reports per 100,000 residents. Its vast labor market, concentration of technology and media companies, and widespread use of freelance and remote work create many legitimate online opportunities for scammers to copy.
On the other hand, the bottom five states are Vermont, with 4.78 reports per 100,000 residents; Rhode Island, with 5.62; North Dakota, with 5.72; Montana, with 5.95; and Iowa, with 6.71. Vermont records the lowest rate nationwide, while Rhode Island has the second lowest.
North Dakota, Montana and Iowa have the third-, fourth- and fifth-lowest rates, respectively. Their smaller or more localized labor markets may leave fewer openings for mass recruitment scams, particularly where hiring relies more heavily on regional employers and direct networks. However, a lower report rate does not mean job seekers are immune, and applicants in every state should independently verify unexpected offers before sending money or personal information.
Full ranking:
Rank | State | Job Scam & Employment Agency Fraud Reports (Per 100,000 Residents) |
1 | Nevada | 15.27 |
2 | Colorado | 13.50 |
3 | Arizona | 13.09 |
4 | Georgia | 13.08 |
5 | Utah | 12.49 |
6 | Florida | 12.35 |
7 | Delaware | 11.99 |
8 | Texas | 11.75 |
9 | Tennessee | 11.66 |
10 | California | 11.24 |
11 | Alabama | 10.95 |
12 | Washington | 10.83 |
13 | Virginia | 10.82 |
14 | Oregon | 10.72 |
15 | North Carolina | 10.59 |
16 | Arkansas | 10.56 |
17 | Louisiana | 10.35 |
18 | Maryland | 10.33 |
19 | South Carolina | 9.73 |
20 | Mississippi | 9.68 |
21 | Oklahoma | 9.52 |
22 | New Mexico | 9.44 |
23 | Kansas | 9.43 |
24 | Maine | 9.43 |
25 | Missouri | 9.34 |
26 | Indiana | 9.06 |
27 | Illinois | 9.05 |
28 | New Hampshire | 9.04 |
29 | New Jersey | 8.96 |
30 | Kentucky | 8.91 |
31 | Wyoming | 8.81 |
32 | New York | 8.73 |
33 | Michigan | 8.70 |
34 | Ohio | 8.62 |
35 | Connecticut | 8.55 |
36 | Pennsylvania | 8.22 |
37 | West Virginia | 7.91 |
38 | Minnesota | 7.87 |
39 | Wisconsin | 7.59 |
40 | Idaho | 7.43 |
41 | Nebraska | 7.27 |
42 | South Dakota | 7.20 |
43 | Massachusetts | 7.17 |
44 | Iowa | 6.71 |
45 | Montana | 5.95 |
46 | North Dakota | 5.72 |
47 | Rhode Island | 5.62 |
48 | Vermont | 4.78 |
Methodology: This study ranks U.S. states based on the number of job scam and employment agency fraud reports per 100,000 residents. Standardizing by population allows for fair comparisons between large and small states. States were ranked from highest to lowest based on their reported rate.
Source: Federal Trade Commission
