Audio By Carbonatix
You might expect a place whose nickname is the Sunshine State to be a beacon of transparency. After all, so-called sunshine laws are seen nationwide as a way to keep otherwise shady government officials in the light of honesty.
But a new ranking shows Florida is among the most deceitful states in the United States. According to the online tarot reading website TaroToo, Florida is the third most deceitful state, trailing only the gambling center of America (Nevada) and Rhode Island. The website examined how often residents lie, fraud rates, romance scams, identity theft, fake doctor’s notes and IDs, Google searches for the notorious online affair service Ashley Madison, and, of course, residents with deceitful star signs (looking at you, Scorpio and Gemini).
The study found that, in Florida, 22 percent of residents lie often, although it doesn’t define what “often” means. There were 2,179 reports of fraud per 100,000 residents; 155 romance scams per 1 million residents; 528 identity theft reports per 100,000 residents; 25 percent of residents have deceitful star signs (Gemini, Libra, and Scorpio); all for a total “deceit score” of 8.3 out of 10.
The Nine Most Deceitful States in the U.S.:
1. Nevada
2. Rhode Island
3. Florida
4. Delaware
5. California
6. Texas
7. Arizona
8. Alabama
9. Louisiana
10. Colorado
The study, which drew on insights from Mastermind Behavior, an online applied behavior analysis therapy provider, also indicates that Florida is the worst state for fraud and identity theft.
According to their experts, people in the U.S. lie approximately 11 times per week. About 90 percent of children begin to comprehend the meaning of lying by the time they’re four years old, and 86 percent of their lies are directed toward parents. (But any toddler parent could have told them that.)
In online interactions, about 90 percent of dating site participants admit to lying. In medical offices, however, people seem far more honest, though not entirely truthful. About 30 percent of patients, probably most of them pothead teens, confess to lying to their doctors about health-related issues.
“These statistics highlight the nuanced and widespread nature of dishonesty in everyday life, as lying encompasses various motivations and contexts, from protecting feelings to outright personal gain—all while reflecting a diverse landscape of human interaction,” according to Mastermind Behavior.
