Article courtesy of ChicksX.
- At the start of this year, Michigan residents lost an average of $4,732 per travel scam – 26% above the national average loss of $3,757 per report.
- Between January and March alone, the state reported 224 cases.
- Common red flags include offers that seem too good to be true, claims you’ve won a ‘free trip’, or fake listings for vacation rentals.
A new analysis of fraud data found that Michigan residents affected by vacation and travel scams lost 26% more than the average American.
Investment experts at crypto exchange ChicksX studied data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to reveal how many residents have fallen victim to vacation and travel fraud in Q1 of 2025, and how this compares to the national average.
Nationally, there were 7,938 cases of vacation and travel scams reported across the U.S. between January and March this year, resulting in a total loss of $29,941,934. This equates to a per-report loss of $3,757.
Michigan residents lost more per attack than many other states, with $1,060,064 stolen across 224 cases – equating to a per-report loss of $4,732. This is 26% above the national average ($3,757 stolen per case).
Michigan Figures: Vacation and Travel Scams (Q1 2025)
| Number of Reports | Total Sum Lost | Average Loss per Report | Comparison to National Average ($3,757 per Report) |
| 224 | $1,060,064 | $4,732 | 26% above |
With travel and vacation fraud likely to spike this August as scammers look to take advantage of peak travel season, Al Alof, CEO of ChicksX, issued a warning:
“With August being one of the busiest travel months of the year, we expect to see an increase in scammers targeting travelers. It’s vital to identify which states are at an elevated risk and where these types of scams can have the biggest financial impact, as it’s clear that more education is needed to prevent residents from falling victim.
“If you’re offered a vacation deal that feels too good to be true – like a luxury resort for $100 a night or a free trip that you never entered to win – it’s probably a scam. It’s essential to always double-check flight, hotel, and vacation package listings, avoid sketchy payment methods, and don’t let last-minute impulsive booking cloud your judgment.”
National Data: Most At-Risk States
Oregon sees the highest average loss associated with vacation and travel scams at $12,554, with a total of $1,255,387 stolen across 100 cases in the state in Q1.
Second is New Mexico. The state reported 50 cases of vacation and travel fraud at the start of this year, with a total loss of $498,378 – or $9,968 per case. Arizona placed third with an average of $8,004 stolen across 157 cases.
Fourth is Idaho, with a total loss of $246,850 across 34 vacation and travel scam reports – equivalent to $7,260 per case. Rounding out the top five most-affected states is Alaska, with an average of $7,226 stolen per attack.
State Ranking: Vacation and Travel Scams (Q1 2025)
| State | Number of Reports | Total Sum Lost | Average Loss per Report | |
| 1 | Oregon | 100 | $1,255,387 | $12,554 |
| 2 | New Mexico | 50 | $498,378 | $9,968 |
| 3 | Arizona | 157 | $1,256,597 | $8,004 |
| 4 | Idaho | 34 | $246,850 | $7,260 |
| 5 | Alaska | 23 | $166,206 | $7,226 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 44 | $315,967 | $7,181 |
| 7 | Washington | 200 | $1,364,330 | $6,822 |
| 8 | Virginia | 213 | $1,263,608 | $5,932 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 241 | $1,339,108 | $5,556 |
| 10 | Hawaii | 33 | $173,565 | $5,260 |
At the other end of the scale is North Dakota. The state saw just nine reports of vacation and travel scams, resulting in a total loss of $2,792 – or just $310 per case.
Methodology: Data was gathered from the Federal Trade Commission’s Fraud Report Subcategories page, covering January to March 2025 (the latest available figures). URL: https://public.tableau.com/
Full state ranking
| State | Number of Reports | Total Sum Lost | Average Loss per Report | |
| 1 | Oregon | 100 | $1,255,387 | $12,554 |
| 2 | New Mexico | 50 | $498,378 | $9,968 |
| 3 | Arizona | 157 | $1,256,597 | $8,004 |
| 4 | Idaho | 34 | $246,850 | $7,260 |
| 5 | Alaska | 23 | $166,206 | $7,226 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 44 | $315,967 | $7,181 |
| 7 | Washington | 200 | $1,364,330 | $6,822 |
| 8 | Virginia | 213 | $1,263,608 | $5,932 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 241 | $1,339,108 | $5,556 |
| 10 | Hawaii | 33 | $173,565 | $5,260 |
| 11 | Michigan | 224 | $1,060,064 | $4,732 |
| 12 | Louisiana | 63 | $296,096 | $4,700 |
| 13 | California | 950 | $4,127,766 | $4,345 |
| 14 | South Carolina | 132 | $568,857 | $4,310 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 48 | $203,906 | $4,248 |
| 16 | Connecticut | 93 | $394,850 | $4,246 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 254 | $977,104 | $3,847 |
| 18 | Florida | 745 | $2,724,988 | $3,658 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | 185 | $675,671 | $3,652 |
| 20 | Utah | 84 | $300,222 | $3,574 |
| 21 | Georgia | 265 | $902,415 | $3,405 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 98 | $331,010 | $3,378 |
| 23 | Kansas | 52 | $168,733 | $3,245 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 141 | $452,826 | $3,212 |
| 25 | Alabama | 99 | $315,278 | $3,185 |
| 26 | Vermont | 15 | $46,683 | $3,112 |
| 27 | New York | 523 | $1,595,220 | $3,050 |
| 28 | Texas | 572 | $1,697,929 | $2,968 |
| 29 | West Virginia | 28 | $82,480 | $2,946 |
| 30 | Nevada | 88 | $257,864 | $2,930 |
| 31 | Indiana | 137 | $399,040 | $2,913 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | 80 | $230,658 | $2,883 |
| 33 | Maryland | 174 | $480,835 | $2,763 |
| 34 | Nebraska | 26 | $70,836 | $2,724 |
| 35 | Missouri | 178 | $479,208 | $2,692 |
| 36 | Tennessee | 145 | $381,623 | $2,632 |
| 37 | Wyoming | 8 | $21,037 | $2,630 |
| 38 | Colorado | 156 | $403,592 | $2,587 |
| 39 | Ohio | 261 | $651,931 | $2,498 |
| 40 | Montana | 29 | $65,590 | $2,262 |
| 41 | Illinois | 387 | $822,688 | $2,126 |
| 42 | Delaware | 29 | $56,185 | $1,937 |
| 43 | Minnesota | 126 | $229,518 | $1,822 |
| 44 | New Jersey | 240 | $369,042 | $1,538 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 30 | $43,927 | $1,464 |
| 46 | Iowa | 61 | $82,087 | $1,346 |
| 47 | Mississippi | 56 | $61,972 | $1,107 |
| 48 | Maine | 31 | $20,458 | $660 |
| 49 | South Dakota | 21 | $8,957 | $427 |
| 50 | North Dakota | 9 | $2,792 | $310 |