According to research by the University of Massachusetts, 60 percent of people tell at least one lie in any given 10-minute conversation, and most tell two or three. And while deceit and dishonesty know no significant geographic limitations, some parts of the United States experience higher rates of fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime than others. None of the 50 states embodies true honesty, but some definitely do a better job of it than others. So, we at Best Life took it upon ourselves to determine the most dishonest state in America.
We compared a series of data on fraud, identity theft, cybercrime, and state integrity policies. For each state, we looked at the most recent data from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the number of fraud reports filed per 100,000 residents. These include imposter scams, online shopping and review schemes, counterfeit checks, home repair scams, and more. We also used the FTC’s number of identity theft reports per 100,000 people in each state. Identify theft includes credit card fraud, bank fraud, and similar violations.
Next, we examined the most recent data from the FBI showing the number of cybercrime victims per 100,000 residents of each state. Then, we factored in the latest available data from the State Integrity Investigation conducted by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity. The study graded each state's government on its “transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption mechanisms.” Just three states—California, Connecticut, and Alaska—scored higher than a D+. And not one state received an A or B grade.
We then gave all four metrics a weighted value and ran them through our exclusive algorithm to determine how each state scored on our 100-point scale Dishonesty Index. According to our analysis, the East Coast must have missed the memo about honesty being the best policy. Wondering where your home state falls in the mix? Read on to discover that, and to find out the most dishonest state in the country. And for the place where you'll find the least number of social butterflies, This Is the Loneliest State in America.
Read the original article on Best Life.
50 | Nebraska
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 476
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 68
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 70
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 0.00
49 | Kentucky
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 529
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 67
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 69
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 2.49
48 | North Dakota
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 377
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 59
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 64
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 8.38
47 | Hawaii
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 497
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 95
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 99
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 10.92
46 | West Virginia
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 564
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 59
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 68
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 11.23
45 | South Dakota
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 366
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 47
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 53
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 11.91
44 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 547
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 108
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 95
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 14.12
43 | Alaska
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 502
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 73
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 198
Integrity grade: C
Dishonesty Index Score: 15.68
42 | Ohio
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 624
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 118
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 80
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 15.85
41 | Massachusetts
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 553
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 125
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 94
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 16.12
40 | Montana
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 571
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 67
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 90
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 17.63
39 | Vermont
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 495
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 54
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 80
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 17.82
38 | Connecticut
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 623
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 128
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 124
Integrity grade: C-
Dishonesty Index Score: 19.13
37 | Iowa
iStockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 474
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 61
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 161
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 20.29
36 | Illinois
Paul Brady Photography / ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 585
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 182
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 82
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 21.46
35 | Alabama
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 613
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 173
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 84
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 22.40
34 | Minnesota
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 539
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 80
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 78
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 22.64
33 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 544
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 86
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 110
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 22.98
32 | Idaho
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 539
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 81
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 83
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 23.91
31 | Mississippi
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 504
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 158
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 56
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 24.45
30 | Maine
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 527
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 60
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 65
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 24.74
29 | Arkansas
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 509
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 150
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 66
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 26.14
28 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 475
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 94
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 73
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 27.66
27 | Kansas
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 544
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 78
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 68
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 28.38
26 | Wyoming
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 481
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 55
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 95
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 28.70
25 | Tennessee
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 636
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 158
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 82
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 29.49
24 | New Hampshire
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 623
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 96
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 85
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 30.53
23 | New Mexico
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 570
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 100
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 97
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 30.96
22 | North Carolina
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 649
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 179
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 78
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 31.63
21 | California
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 616
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 257
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 127
Integrity grade: C-
Dishonesty Index Score: 34.00
And for the place with the friskiest residents, This Is the Most Promiscuous State in America.
20 | Missouri
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 650
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 121
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 83
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 34.33
19 | Washington
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 658
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 94
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 172
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 36.35
18 | Utah
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 545
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 149
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 103
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 36.54
17 | Colorado
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 673
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 110
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 168
Integrity grade: D+
Dishonesty Index Score: 38.03
16 | Arizona
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 711
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 150
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 107
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 38.39
15 | Indiana
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 517
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 95
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 145
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 38.74
14 | Michigan
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 557
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 135
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 83
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 38.97
13 | New Jersey
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 638
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 205
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 102
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 39.55
12 | Virginia
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 672
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 121
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 137
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 40.03
11 | South Carolina
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 662
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 213
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 88
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 46.50
10 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 635
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 163
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 85
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 46.75
9 | Louisiana
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 534
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 227
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 82
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 47.91
8 | New York
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 656
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 186
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 110
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 48.26
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7 | Oregon
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 685
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 96
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 114
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 48.60
6 | Texas
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 597
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 256
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 94
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 49.30
And to find out where in the U.S. people have the worst manners, This Is the Rudest State in America.
5 | Maryland
Sean Pavone / ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 770
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 210
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 194
Integrity grade: D
Dishonesty Index Score: 68.54
4 | Delaware
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 820
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 226
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 109
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 69.29
3 | Georgia
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 752
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 427
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 85
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 74.73
2 | Florida
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 835
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 304
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 127
Integrity grade: D-
Dishonesty Index Score: 75.05
And for the most party-friendly place, This Is the Drunkest State in America.
1 | Nevada
ShutterstockFraud reports per 100,000 people: 905
Identity theft reports per 100,000 people: 256
Cybercrime victims per 100,000 people: 207
Integrity grade: F
Dishonesty Index Score: 100.00
And for the areas of the country where you need to be extra alert, This Is the Most Dangerous City in America.
