Most Deceitful States: Study Shows Where Americans Lie, Cheat, And Scam The Most

Data Reveals The Midwest Stays Honest While Coastal States Rack Up Fraud and Romance Scams

Americans tell an average of 11 lies per week. More than half have been cheated on. And in some parts of the country, dishonesty has become something of a local specialty. Nevada earned the dubious distinction of being America’s most deceitful state, according to new data analyzing everything from fraud rates to searches for Ashley Madison, the dating site for people looking to have affairs. Nearly one in five Nevada residents admit to lying often. Las Vegas ranked third nationally for winter affairs on Ashley Madison’s recent hotspot list, and the state saw almost 60,000 fraud reports last year alone. But the biggest surprise? Rhode Island, the tiny New England state better known for clam chowder than con artists, came in second. A staggering 40% of Rhode Islanders admit they lie frequently, nearly double the national average and the highest rate in America. That means two out of every five people in the Ocean State are, by their own admission, regular liars. Florida rounded out the top three. The Sunshine State lost more than $92.5 million to romance scams in 2024, with Miami leading the nation’s cities for people seeking winter affairs. Floridians also reported the most identity theft cases per capita in the country.

When ‘What Happens in Vegas’ Becomes A Data Point

The analysis examined fraud reports, romance scam losses, identity theft rates, and even Google searches for terms like “fake doctor’s note” and “how to lie.” Researchers also looked at birth data to see which states had the most residents born under Gemini, Libra, and Scorpio, the zodiac signs with reputations for being, shall we say, flexible with the truth. These zodiac reputations come from popular astrology, not scientific research. Texas topped that particular ranking, with just over a quarter of residents born under one of the three allegedly deceitful signs. Whether astrology actually predicts dishonesty is another question entirely, but Texans do seem to be searching for relationship red flags at higher rates than most states. Arizona emerged as the romance scam capital of America on a per-capita basis. While Florida lost more money overall, Arizona saw the highest rate of romance scam reports per capita, with residents losing more than $53.7 million to fraudsters pretending to be lovestruck strangers online. That’s someone in your neighborhood, or your book club, or your gym, getting swindled out of their savings by a fake profile promising romance.

The Midwest Stays Honest

Not everywhere in America is drowning in deception. North Dakota took the crown for most trustworthy state. In the survey sample analyzed, no North Dakota respondents reported lying often. Fraud cases? Minimal. Identity theft? Barely a blip. Romance scam losses came in at less than $2 million statewide, a fraction of what Florida lost. Montana, South Dakota, and Ohio followed close behind as the nation’s most honest states. The pattern suggests something about rural, Midwestern culture that either discourages dishonesty or at least makes people less comfortable admitting to it. But even in the most honest states, people aren’t immune to getting scammed. Vermont, despite its wholesome maple syrup reputation, lost more than $5 million to romance scams. California got hit hardest in absolute terms, losing $156 million to fraudsters who prey on people looking for love online. The gap between the most and least deceitful states tells a story about American trust. In some places, lying is so common that nearly half the population cops to doing it regularly. In others, admitting to dishonesty remains taboo. Whether that reflects actual behavior or just different standards for honesty is harder to say.

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Disclaimer: This article discusses state-level data and trends related to self-reported dishonesty, fraud, and scam victimization. The findings do not reflect the character of any individual resident, and correlation does not imply causation. The study includes astrology-based analysis, which is not scientifically validated. For information about protecting yourself from fraud or romance scams, contact the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov.

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