JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new study from NumberBarn highlights the alarming financial toll of robocalls and scam texts in the United States, with Jacksonville ranking high among the most affected cities.
The report reveals that Jacksonville placed 4th nationwide for robocall complaints, logging 6,305 complaints in 2024. On a national scale, Americans lost over $1 billion to these scams this year alone.
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Breaking down the losses, phone scams accounted for $695 million, with victims typically losing $1,500 each. Meanwhile, text scams caused $325 million in damages, with a median loss of $1,000 per victim.
Florida ranked 12th in the country for robocall complaints, reporting nearly 160,000 cases.
Experts say seniors are particularly at risk, making Florida a prime target for scammers. Americans aged 60 and older faced $405 million in losses from phone scams and $130 million from text scams this year.
Aaron Rosenmund, Senior Director at OnDefend, explains that scammers use these tactics not only to steal money but also to gather personal information. Phone numbers tied to names are valuable commodities in the scam industry.
“They’re very annoying. They’re very difficult to stop, and there’s a lot of different motivations behind them.”
To combat the issue, Rosenmund advises being cautious with unsolicited calls and texts, particularly those asking for sensitive details. Blocking unknown numbers and avoiding engagement can also help.
If answering a suspicious call, staying silent can prevent scammers from collecting voice information.
Rosenmund underscores that vigilance and awareness are key to protecting oneself. He reminds Americans that legitimate government agencies will never ask for payments via calls or texts.
“One thing that can help is to never deal with money where someone has called you,” Rosenmund said.
Victims of scam calls or texts are encouraged to report incidents to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Additionally, registering on the National Do Not Call Registry can help reduce unwanted calls.