Analysis Reveals Top Online Scams in Michigan; Phishing Leads Nationally

Article courtesy of AMLTRIX,

• Phishing is the most commonly searched scam in Michigan and in the United States, with 34 out of 50 states reporting the highest number of inquiries about this type of scam.

• Marketplace scams follow, ranking as the top searched scam in 14 states, showing significant search volume nationwide, with investment scams in third place.

• At least 2.6 million people are scammed every year in the US; however, this figure reflects only those who have actually reported incidents. 

A new analysis of internet search data reveals the most prevalent digital threats in each state, with phishing scams being the most commonly researched across the nation, topping the list in 34 out of 50 states.

Gabrielius Erikas Bilkštys, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) specialist and founder of AMLTRIX, an open-source financial crime knowledge graph, analyzed the FTC’s figures. The analysis revealed that at least 2.6 million Americans are getting scammed every year, with distinct patterns across different regions and demographics. The research discovered the most commonly looked up scams in each state by analyzing key search terms.

The data found that phishing scams were the most frequent in the US, ranking as the top concern in 34 states. It’s a type of cyberattack where criminals impersonate legitimate organizations such as banks and trick people into providing sensitive data like credit card information, banking details, and passwords.

Americans look up this kind of scam on average 24,100 times every month. A lot of people seem to be just looking up the phrase “phishing” as it’s often mentioned particularly in the media. The phrase alone is looked up around 85,000 times every month in the US.

Marketplace scams are the second most usual threat. Specifically, “Facebook marketplace scams” are searched for the most often, on average, 7,300 times per month. Many of these schemes reportedly involve Zelle payments, with “Zelle scams” being searched around 8,000 times per month nationally.

E-commerce scams are incredibly common because so much shopping has moved online. Scammers create fake storefronts or use real marketplaces to list items that never arrive. 

The third most searched threat in America is the investment scam, with around 5,250 national searches every month. It is also ranked as the top concern in the state of Rhode Island. It is one of the oldest types of scams that includes common examples such as Ponzi and pyramid schemes, where people are offered high returns based on misleading information, but later, the money simply disappears. Nowadays, these scams often involve cryptocurrency or real estate.

Romance scams are the fourth most frequent scam, ranking as the top concern in Alaska. These scams are checked out by Americans approximately 3,900 times every month. In these schemes, fraudsters often entice victims with fake investment opportunities in oil rigs or cryptocurrency. 

Romance scams are particularly cruel because they build a fake relationship, sometimes lasting months, just to steal money or recruit the victim as a ‘money mule’ to move illegal funds.

Finally, the fifth most commonly searched scam in America is the lottery scam. It is usually in the same category as an inheritance scam. The catch is you have to pay a fee to unlock the prize or inheritance, which of course never exists. While searched over 510 times monthly nationally, these scams appear to be decreasing in frequency as public awareness grows.

Gabrielius Erikas Bilkštys, AML expert and founder of AMLTRIX, commented on the findings, “Phishing and marketplace scams are common because they are easy. However, it’s clear that romance scams will become more frequent with the evolution of AI, opening many new opportunities for fraudsters. Catching the scammers will fall more on the shoulders of banks, fintechs, and law enforcement agencies worldwide. While these scams may seem small on their own, they feed a massive river of criminal money that must be laundered. If we can prevent money laundering, it will prevent a lot of scams, and vice versa.”

What Consumers Can Do:

• Be Safe Online: Check reviews and the website’s domain age before buying or investing, and use payment methods that offer buyer protection.
• Do Your Research. If you’re investing, make sure you choose a reliable broker or partner with many positive online reviews. 
• Protect Your Bank Account: Never agree to receive or send money for someone you’ve only met online, and never share your bank details with them.

Consumers who believe they have been targeted by a scam should report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and their local state Attorney General’s office.

Top 5 Most Commonly Searched Scams in Every State

Sources:

Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs via AMLTRIX.

Methodology:

The data compiled by AMLTRIX analyzed numerous search terms related to various popular scams across every US state during the period October 2024 – October 2025, to establish the scams that Americans face most often.

About AMLTRIX

AMLTRIX was founded and created by enthusiasts from the regtech company AMLYZE. AMLTRIX is the world’s first open-source knowledge initiative dedicated to standardizing the fight against financial crime. It provides a structured, collaborative knowledge graph of money laundering tactics, techniques, and risk indicators. By creating a universal language for the AML/CFT community, AMLTRIX aims to enhance transparency, improve AI detection, and foster unprecedented collaboration among financial institutions, regulators, and technology providers to build a safer global financial system.