- California ranks #2 in the nation for AI scam exposure, with an AI Scam Impact Score of 62.56 out of 100, behind only Wisconsin (65.59) and ahead of Connecticut (59.66) and Florida (58.82).
- California recorded 2,787 AI-related scam complaints in 2025, with reported losses of $158,989,594, the largest total dollar losses of
any state in the country. - California accounts for 20.12% of all U.S. AI scam losses while making up just 11.57% of the national population, with residents losing an average of $435,588 every day of 2025 to AI-driven fraud.
Artificial intelligence has moved from experimental technology into the standard toolkit of online fraud. Voice cloning, deepfake video calls, AI-generated phishing emails, and synthetic-identity applications are now turning up in consumer complaints across every state. In California, those complaints are translating into the largest dollar losses reported anywhere in the country.
According to an analysis by Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Las Vegas, state-level AI scam complaints and dollar losses from the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center annual reports for 2023, 2024, and 2025 were combined with 2025 population figures from World Population Review to produce per-capita measures. Each state received a Complaint Rate Score and a Loss Rate Score out of 50, which were summed into a composite AI Scam Impact Score out of 100 used to rank all 50 states.
Where California Stands Nationally (The 10 States Most Affected by AI Scams in 2025, California at #2)
| Rank | State | Complaints (2025) | Dollars Lost (2025) | AI Scam Impact Score /100 |
| 1 | Wisconsin | 1,272 | $8,135,297 | 65.59 |
| 2 | California | 2,787 | $158,989,594 | 62.56 |
| 3 | Connecticut | 152 | $16,148,274 | 59.66 |
| 4 | Florida | 2,183 | $77,381,441 | 58.82 |
| 5 | Maryland | 485 | $21,019,959 | 56.34 |
| 6 | Nevada | 275 | $9,972,116 | 53.98 |
| 7 | Washington | 623 | $24,673,194 | 53.35 |
| 8 | Colorado | 372 | $19,776,290 | 52.32 |
| 9 | Texas | 1,620 | $108,462,540 | 51.06 |
| 10 | Arizona | 518 | $21,822,345 | 48.43 |
California places second overall despite having by far the largest reported dollar losses and complaint volume in the country. The state’s Loss Rate Score of 46.01 out of 50 is the second highest nationally, behind only Connecticut, while its Complaint Rate Score of 16.55 out of 50 keeps the composite just below Wisconsin’s maxed-out per-capita rate.
Looking at the study, Ramzy Ladah, Founder & CEO of Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, Las Vegas, commented,
“California’s position is a reminder that AI-driven fraud is now moving the biggest dollar figures in the country. The state accounts for more than one in every five dollars lost to AI scams nationwide, with residents reporting an average loss of over $57,000 per complaint. That tells consumers, from individual retirees to small-business owners in tech hubs, to verify unexpected calls, messages, and video requests before sending money or sharing credentials.”
California vs. the Rest of the West
| State | Complaints (2025) | Complaints per 100,000 | AI Scam Impact Score /100 | National Rank |
| California | 2,787 | 7.03 | 62.56 | 2 |
| Washington | 623 | 7.73 | 53.35 | 7 |
| Nevada | 275 | 8.28 | 53.98 | 6 |
| Colorado | 372 | 6.19 | 52.32 | 8 |
| Arizona | 518 | 6.73 | 48.43 | 10 |
| Oregon | 276 | 6.43 | 44.73 | 13 |
| Hawaii | 70 | 4.82 | 30.71 | 21 |
| Utah | 216 | 6.06 | 28.31 | 23 |
| Montana | 95 | 8.31 | 28.01 | 24 |
| Alaska | 49 | 6.59 | 25.39 | 27 |
| Idaho | 104 | 5.12 | 23.74 | 31 |
| New Mexico | 90 | 4.21 | 23.72 | 32 |
| Wyoming | 20 | 3.39 | 22.44 | 34 |
California makes up 50.7% of all AI scam complaints reported across the 13 Western states and 61.2% of all regional dollar losses. Its complaint rate of 7.03 per 100,000 sits near the middle of the Western pack, but the sheer population and dollar volume make the state the single largest source of AI scam losses west of the Mississippi.
The Dollar-Loss Profile: Larger Individual Losses Than the National Average
| Benchmark | Average Loss per Complaint | Complaints | Total Dollars Lost |
| California | $57,046.86 | 2,787 | $158,989,594 |
| U.S. Average | $41,686.00 | 18,952 | $790,032,951 |
| Connecticut (highest) | $106,239 | 152 | $16,148,274 |
| Texas | $66,952 | 1,620 | $108,462,540 |
| Florida | $35,448 | 2,183 | $77,381,441 |
| Wisconsin | $6,395.67 | 1,272 | $8,135,297 |
The California pattern points to concentrated, higher-value AI fraud schemes, business email compromise, investment-themed deepfakes, and synthetic-identity applications, rather than the high-volume, low-value activity seen in Wisconsin ($6,396 average loss). Fewer residents proportionally are reporting, but those who do lose, on average, nearly nine times what a typical Wisconsin victim reports.
Methodology
The analysis draws on state-level complaint and loss figures for AI-related scams published by the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center for 2023, 2024, and 2025, combined with 2025 state population estimates from World Population Review. Each state’s complaint count and dollar loss were normalized per 100,000 residents. States were then ranked on two 50-point scales using proportional scaling, with the high-rate state on each measure awarded the maximum 50 points and the remaining states scored as a proportion of that maximum. The Complaint Rate Score and Loss Rate Score were summed to produce a composite AI Scam Impact Score out of 100, which determined the final state ranking.
Data Sources
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 2023 Annual State Cybercrime Report → ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2023State/
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 2024 Annual State Cybercrime Report → ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024State/
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 2025 Annual State Cybercrime Report → ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025State/
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population by Age by State → https://data.census.gov/table?q=population+by+age+by+state
- Research Dataset → https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1muRxGL2QbNpoPK7sqgSJkkNt3e71YHzNO7V7jyXEEeY/edit?gid=699220930#gid=699220930
- Study by → https://www.ladahlaw.com/
About Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Las Vegas
The study was conducted by Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Las Vegas, an experienced personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting clients' rights and maximizing claim value.
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