See Where Identity Theft is Highest in Florida

Identity theft is on the rise all across the country, but especially in the South, where three states lead the nation.  According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is most common in Louisiana, Georgia and Florida.

Last year, for every 100,000 people, 500 were victims of the crime, with credit card fraud at the top of the list.  Credit card fraud involves scammers who utilize your personal information to gain access to your credit card, or to establish a new one in your name for the crook’s own use.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama was the #1 metro area in the country for identity fraud, with over 1,000 victims for every 100,000 residents.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana was #2, followed by Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach in South Florida.

Here are the other Florida metropolitan areas that ranked in the top 50 for identity theft in the U.S.:

By comparison, New York City was only #43, several notches behind Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.  Overall, there were 441,822 reports of identity theft nationwide last year.  Millenials, according to the FTC data, were most likely to be victims of identity theft, and surprisingly, those over 80 were least likely.

The Department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offers ways to protect yourself from identity theft on its website, including suggestions to take advantage of automated renewals of drivers’ licenses and ID cards, as well as credit cards.  The agency also suggests picking up your new checks at your bank branch, rather than having them mailed to your home.  Also, the advice includes a reminder not to leave your mail in your mailbox overnight.  Pick it up as close to the time it was delivered as possible to cut down on the risk of someone swiping it. For more tips on avoiding identity theft, click here.

Did you know April is STD Awareness Month? More importantly, did you know that a new study ranks several Florida cities  in the top 20 for sexually transmitted diseases?

In their 6th annual study of STD rates, Innerbody Research looked at the data in cities all across the country to compile their list of the top 100 cities with the highest STD rates.  This year’s report has Memphis, Tennessee at the top of the list with 1,460 STD cases per 100,000 residents, followed by last year’s chart-topper, Jackson, Mississippi, which slipped to 2nd place with 1,358 STD cases per 100,000 residents. As has been the case in years past, STDs continue to be particularly widespread in the South.  Of the top 25, 14 are Southern cities.

The study is based on data from the CDC’s latest STD Surveillance Statistics.  It showed that chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are the most commonly reported new infections in this category.  The CDC is also a good resource for tips to prevent getting a STD – including abstinence, vaccination to prevent HPV and hepatitis B, reducing the number of sex partners, monogamy, and using condoms.  The CDC stresses that if you’re sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most critical ways to protect your health, and the health of your partner(s).

Florida makes an impressive showing with 7 cities in the top 100 overall, including 3 in the top 20.  That’s right, more than a half dozen Florida cities have some of the highest STD rates in the country.  Here’s how they stack up.  Notice Tampa is right in the middle of the pack.

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Jacksonville was the first Florida city to make the list with 997 cases per 100k people.

No surprise Miami made this list, since it's known to be a huge party city. They are right behind Jacksonville with 987 cases per 100k people.

With Ft. Lauderdale being right next to Miami, it makes sense that they're only a couple spots behind them on this list. Fort Lauderdale reported 950 cases for every 100k people.

Orlando has 750 cases per 100k people. With it being so close to The Villages, we were expecting more.

Tampa recorded 694 cases per 100,000 residents. This is probably the 1 thing we don't want to be #1 for.

West Palm Beach recorded 525 cases per 100k people.

The last Florida city to make the list was Daytona Beach. They recorded 480 cases per 100k people.