WA residents lost $55 million to these scams in 2024. How to protect yourself
Getting caught up in a personal data breach can be inconvenient — prompting you to change your passwords, alert your bank and keep a close eye on your accounts.
It can also be costly.
People in Washington state lost millions of dollars in scams linked to breaches of personal data, according to an analysis by digital forensics company CNC Intelligence.
In fact, the Evergreen State had one of the highest loss rates in the country, per the company.
Exactly how much did Washington state residents lose — and what steps can you take to protect yourself from scammers?
Here’s what to know:
How much did Washington residents lose to data breach scams?
Washington state residents lost a total of $55.4 million in 2024 to scams tied to personal data breaches, according to CNC Intelligence.
That amounts to nearly $697,000 in losses per 100,000 residents — the second-high rate in the nation, the company said.
Washington, D.C., came in first in losses per 100,000 residents to data breach-related scams, and Florida trailed Washington in third place.
Meanwhile, the amount lost by Washington state residents in those types of scams skyrocketed.
Washington saw a roughly 400% jump in financial losses from personal data breach-linked scams between 2023 and 2024, according to the CNC Intelligence analysis.
Of the $55.4 million lost in 2024, about 86% was in cryptocurrency, the analysis said.
How do personal data breach scams work?
A personal data breach happens when information that’s supposed to be protected is compromised.
Matthew Stern, CEO and co-founder of CNC Intelligence, told The Olympian by phone that scammers can use information from those breaches, such as names and email addresses, to appear legitimate and gain trust.
“The more information they have, the better they can target us,” Stern said.
The Washington State Office of the Attorney General keeps a record of data breach notices in the state. A dozen breaches, affecting thousands of residents, were reported in October alone.
Which states had the greatest losses to scammers?
These were the top 10 U.S. states and districts for personal data breach-related scams in 2024 in terms of losses per 100,000 residents, according to CNC Intelligence:
- 1. Washington, D.C., $766,459
- 2. Washington state: $696,649
- 3. Florida: $506,958
- 4. California: $494,454
- 5. New Mexico: $479,737
- 6. New York: $431,135
- 7. Colorado: $399,365
- 8. Georgia: $385,183
- 9. Arkansas: $375,552
- 10. Iowa: $362,611
How did CNC Intelligence come up with ranking?
CNC Intelligence analyzed data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Compliant Center to compile its ranking, according to a description of the methodology.
The data included 2023 and 2024 annual national and state reports.
The company also used U.S. Census Bureau population data.
CNC Intelligence has locations in Washington, D.C., as well as Tennessee, London and Israel.
How can I protect myself from being scammed?
The FBI advises people to “be cautious when connected” to the internet.
“Everyday tasks — opening an email attachment, following a link in a text message, making an online purchase — can open you up to online criminals who want to harm your systems or steal from you,” the FBI said on its website, adding that “preventing internet-enabled crimes and cyber intrusions requires each of us to be aware and on guard.
According to the FBI, you should:
- Keep your computer and software updated and use a trusted antivirus program
- Use unique and strong passphrases for each account
- Don’t use public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions
- Scrutinize email and web address in correspondence
- Scrutinize requests for payment or funds transfers
- Don’t open links in unsolicited messages about account information
- Don’t send money to people you met online or give people you don’t know well access to your accounts
- If a message implores you to take immediate action, be especially suspicious
Stern said another important safeguard is education. Virtually everyone is vulnerable to internet crime, and “the more that we know about it, the less likely we are to be a target,” Stern said.
What should you do if you fall victim to a scam?
If you fall victim to an internet-enabled crime, you should report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center as quickly as you can, according to the FBI.
You should also reach out to area law enforcement and your financial institution, and loop in people in your life who you know and trust, Stern said.
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "WA residents lost $55 million to these scams in 2024. How to protect yourself."
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