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Fraud, scams, hoaxes—however you want to label such malfeasance, it’s been around since humans became social creatures. What’s new, however, is scammers’ ability to reach large numbers of potential victims with personalized messages that are optimized to build trust (and steal information).

Scammers largely owe this newfound capability to technological advancements, like the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) models and tools. The internet itself has already given fraudsters a boost in efficiency. However, data show that things aren’t slowing down as time goes on. The number of fraud and identity theft reports increased by 1,861% between 2001 and 2024 alone.

The rise of technology-based scams has allowed fraud to proliferate in many U.S. metropolitan areas. Below, PeopleFinders takes a look at the areas most affected by the rise in fraud, according to recent metrics from the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book.

What Does Fraud Look Like?

Before analyzing the hotspots where fraud is most likely to occur, we first have to define what “fraud” actually means and looks like.

Today, fraud involves a lot more than simple deception. It overwhelmingly occurs through digital channels, and it can target victims from multiple angles: threats to privacy, identity theft, financial theft, and even romance scams hide behind unidentified names or numbers.

A common tactic scammers use is phishing, which involves sending messages purporting to be from financial institutions or other trusted organizations to potential victims. The emails seek personally identifiable information (PII) that could allow fraudsters to impersonate victims and, crucially, obtain money or other assets.

The content of scammers’ messages varies; some may claim to offer “exciting” investment opportunities and ask victims for their bank account information. Other times, victims may be offered “lucrative” jobs that require Social Security numbers. Job scams alone cost Americans an estimated $501 billion in 2024, a fivefold increase from 2020 ($91 billion).

Overall, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) logged $12.5 billion in fraud losses throughout 2024. An equally sobering fact is that 73% of Americans in a Pew Research survey reported encountering some form of online fraud or scam.

7 Rising Fraud Hotspots Across the U.S.

Almost every U.S. metropolitan area saw a greater number of fraud reports in 2024 compared to 2023. Some experienced steep increases, though. Many of the worst offenders are located in the growing Sun Belt.

1. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Although the Baton Rouge metro area in Louisiana has seen relatively modest growth over the past few years, the increase in fraud reports has be

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To grow the thickest, healthiest and most luxurious hair possible, many people head straight to the supplement aisle. Choices abound, but two of the most common (and most talked about) are biotin and keratin peptides. Biotin is a B-vitamin taken as a supplement and often promoted for stronger hair and nails. Keratin peptides, on the other hand, are structural proteins that make up the actual building blocks of hair; these can be found in formulations that contain Intermediate Filament Peptides (IFP).

Both are said to improve the look, feel, and growth of hair, but how do you make the best choice for your needs?

That depends. In this article, OMI takes a closer look at the science behind both biotin and keratin peptides, and digs into clinical studies on both to help determine what will work best with your body’s own biology—and get the gorgeous, healthy hair you deserve.

First, What Is Biotin?

The short answer: It’s a B-Vitamin—specifically Vitamin B-7. This water-soluble nutrient plays a crucial role in metabolizing fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. It also supports enzymes called carboxylases, which assist in key metabolic processes, and it contributes to the health of your skin, nerves, and keratin infrastructure.

Because keratin is the protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails, biotin is often included in beauty supplements. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for everyone.

Can You Get Enough Biotin from Food?

For most people, yes. Biotin is found naturally in a wide variety of foods like egg yolks, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and vegetables including sweet potatoes, as well as organ meats like liver and kidneys. Because it’s in so many foods, and is recycled frequently by your body, true biotin deficiency is rare in people with a balanced diet.

In fact, your body requires only a small amount of biotin to function optimally. Adults typically need about 30 micrograms a day, which is easily met through a typical Western diet.

That said, people who consume raw egg whites frequently, drink alcohol chronically, or are taking certain anti-seizure medications may be at an increased risk for a deficiency. Symptoms include thinning hair, brittle nails, fatigue, depression, and red rashes around the eyes, nose, and mouth.

What Does the Research on Biotin Say?

Biotin and hair health

One study on children with “uncombable hair syndrome” found improvements with biotin, but the condition is rare and affects a small group. Anecdotal reports exist, but scientific backing is limited.

Biotin and nail strength

Small studies show that some women experienced stronger nails after taking biotin, but the lack of control groups makes it difficult to confirm causation.

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Medicaid is the public health insurance program that covers adults and children from low-income households as well as people of all ages with disabilities. There are 56 Medicaid programs and all are funded, in part, by the federal government. Each state, plus five U.S. territories, and Washington D.C., has its own Medicaid program.

Through the Affordable Care Act, 40 states and Washington D.C. have expanded Medicaid coverage. For these states, Medicaid includes people with higher incomes than previously qualified. Typically, expansion adults have incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 sets new work requirements for adults ages 19 to 64 living in states that have expanded Medicaid. The mandate is scheduled to begin by Jan. 1, 2027. (States can start the work requirements sooner.) The secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can give states until Dec. 31, 2028, to begin.

Arkansas became the first state to implement Medicaid work requirements in 2018. By the time the short-lived program was shut down by a federal judge in 2019, about 18,000 people lost coverage (which was later restored). Nonexpansion states can also pursue Medicaid work requirements. Georgia has not expanded Medicaid, but it has had Medicaid work requirements since 2023. It is the only state with a waiver for this purpose.

More than 77 million people are covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as of September 2025. More than 40 million (52%) were adults. As of March 2025, at least 20 million adults covered by Medicaid are in the expansion group.

A 2023 KFF analysis of Medicaid-covered adults ages 19 to 64 found that most were working. And in a survey of heal

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Homeowners insurance is often reviewed during renewal or after a premium increase. What receives far less attention is dwelling coverage, even though it represents the core financial protection of a homeowners policy. Cheap Insurance explains that as rebuilding costs continue to rise across the country, many homes are insured based on estimates that no longer reflect current construction realities.

This issue affects homeowners nationwide, from Alabama and Mississippi to California and Washington, as well as in less densely populated states such as Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Heading into 2026, a home audit focused on dwelling coverage is becoming increasingly important. Construction inflation, regional labor shortages, and state-specific building requirements have significantly changed what it costs to rebuild a home after a total loss. Without regular review, coverage gaps can quietly grow over time.

What Dwelling Coverage Is Designed to Do

Dwelling coverage insures the physical structure of a home, including the roof, walls, foundation, and attached structures. Its purpose is not to mirror the home’s real estate value, but to cover the cost of rebuilding the structure to its prior condition following a covered loss.

Rebuild costs vary widely by state and even by local market. Labor rates in Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York often exceed national averages, while material transportation costs can significantly affect rebuild pricing in states like Alaska and Hawai’i. Architectural style, square footage, and construction quality all play a role.

When dwelling coverage does not align with these realities, policyholders in states such as Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico may discover too late that coverage falls short of what rebuilding actually requires.

Why

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Most leaders genuinely want to help.

When a problem shows up, they jump in. When someone is stuck, they offer a solution. When deadlines loom, they take work back onto their own plate.

It feels responsible. Supportive, even.

But research and experience suggest this instinct — while well-intentioned — can quietly undermine trust, ownership, and performance over time.

ACT Leadership, in partnership with Brown University School of Professional Studies, provides insights and practical tips from its leadership and team coaching research and experience.

The Hidden Cost of Fixing

Decades of research on motivation show that people do their best work when they experience autonomy, competence, and a sense of ownership. Psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, whose work underpins Self-Determination Theory, found that excessive direction or control — even when framed as “help” — can reduce motivation and learning (Deci & Ryan, 2000).

In leadership settings, the same pattern shows up again and again: when leaders step in too quickly, teams stop thinking for themselves.

Michael Hutchins, a leadership coach and author currently writing a book on leadership identity, sees this frequently in his work with managers.

“Most leaders don’t realize how often helping turns into rescuing,” Hutchins says. “Over time, people learn that if they wait long enough, the leader will solve the problem for them.”

The result is short-term relief — and long-term dependency.

Why Leaders Do It Anyway

The impulse to fix isn’t a flaw. It’s human.

Many leaders advanced in their careers precisely because they were capable problem-solvers. Stepping in worked earlier on, especially in environments where speed and accuracy mattered more than development.

But modern work is different. Problems are more complex, less predictable, and rarely solved by one person alone.

Still, under pressure, leaders often revert to what once worked. They answer instead of asking. They decide instead of involving. They move fast — and unintentionally narrow the space for others to contribute.

This dynamic was famously described in a classic Harvard Business Review article, “Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?”, which explains how managers unknowingly train employees to hand problems upward by repeatedly taking them back (Oncken & Wass).

Helping vs. Empowering

The distinction between helping and empowering is subtle but important.

Helping sounds like:

• “Here’s what you should do.”
• “Let me take this one.”
• “I’ll just fix it quickly.”

Empowering sounds like:

• “What outcome are we trying to achieve?”
• “What constraints should we keep in mind?”
• “What options do you see?”

In other words, empowering leaders don’t remove the problem — they frame it.

Research supports this shift. A 2019 Harvard Business Review article, “The Leader as Coach,” found that leaders who rely more on asking questions and less on giving answers build stronger problem-solving capability across their teams,