ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - The latest research shows online scammers took full advantage of the pandemic. Both Missouri and Illinois saw spikes in the number of victims taken in by internet scams. In Missouri online crime rose 23%. Illinois saw a 36% increase from 2019 to 2020.
Consumer research firm Comparitech looked at data from multiple agencies. Not only were there more victims across the country, but the amount of money those victims lost went up by nearly 40% last year.
Cases of identity theft were up dramatically as were crimes against children on the internet.
Health care related scams saw an incredible spike. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, victim losses from online health care fraud went from $1.1M in 2019 to nearly $25M in 2020.
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