As shoppers are finishing their online gift-buying ahead of Christmas, Floridians in particular should keep a sharp eye out for scams.

A new study published by Mailgo, an online artificial intelligence email campaign and marketing company, found that Florida ranked seventh in the nation for suffering the most due to online scams. The analysis looked at data at the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center to rank states based on scam impact and the amount of money victims lost.

The study compiled variable factors to come up with a “scam effect score.” Florida amassed a score of 85.37. That’s the seventh-highest in America.

High complaint frequency and significant financial losses contributed most to that ranking. In Florida, scam victims lost about $45.86 on average, ranking seventh-highest in the U.S. There were about 2.23 scam complaints for every 1,000 people in the state. That was the 11th-highest in the country.

“Florida’s unique demographic profile makes it a prime target for sophisticated fraud schemes. Scammers aggressively target retirees through phishing emails impersonating Social Security offices, Medicare providers, and investment firms, exploiting both financial assets and potential digital literacy gaps,” said Lennon Han, an email communications analyst for Mailgo.

“Technical email authentication and threat-detection systems provide essential protection that awareness alone cannot deliver, helping identify and block fraudulent messages before they reach inboxes.”

Florida was the only Southern state in the U.S. to make the top 10, which was focused mainly on Western states. Nevada topped the list, followed by Arizona, California, Wyoming, Washington and Colorado. Maryland placed eighth, with Massachusetts at No. 9 and Alaska at No. 10.

IdentityTheft.org, which analyzes scams, reported that email remains the primary avenue for AI scammers to use. Extortion is the fastest-rising type of crime, followed by crimes against children, investment, government impersonation, and employment scams.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ holiday toy drive collected a record-breaking 13,076 items to help kids in need this year.

The County credited “the community’s unprecedented generosity” and a $20,000 donation from Sam’s Club for surpassing last year’s efforts, which raised nearly 11,000 toys in 2024.

“Thank you, Orange County, for coming together to support our neighbors in need,” Demings wrote on the social media platform X.

Demings played Santa and helped deliver toys to some of the families in the drive-through pickup line. With Christmas lights around his neck, Demings placed a shiny red bicycle and bags of gifts in people’s cars, according to the Orlando Sentinel, which documented the event at Barnett Park last week.

The Mayor’s annual toy drive has been a tradition for 15 years in Orange County and has collected an impressive 110,000 gifts over the years for young people, ranging from infants to teenagers. 

The county is distributing gifts to Wraparound Orange, Orange County Public Schools Kids’ Closet, and local nonprofit organizations to reach families in need. People can donate in several ways: drop off toys at locations across the county, buy toys online, or attend a one-day “Shop and Drop” event sponsored by FOX 35.

“Each toy donated represents more than a gift; it’s a reminder that our community cares,” Demings said in a statement from last month. “When we come together to give, we lift spirits and bring hope to families across Orange County.”

The holiday toy drive comes with Christmas just around the corner.

For Central Florida, the festive celebrations are in full swing at the theme parks, the smaller attractions and public parks in  Orlando. 

And there’s extra holiday cheer in state offices since Gov. Ron DeSantis gave some state employees extra paid time off on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, in addition to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Stephanie Ziglar said she is running for Orange County Commission because she wants to help support businesses after seeing many of them struggle with a lack of government support.

Ziglar, the Curry Ford West Main Street District Executive Director, has filed for  Orange County’s District 3 race in November 2028.

A crowded field of candidates is already seeking the seat currently held by Commissioner Mayra Uribe.

As it stands now, Ziglar is competing against former Sen. Linda Stewart, Nelson Betancourt, information technology expert Gus Martinez, and lawyer Walker Smith IV.

In 2023, Ziglar began leading the Curry Ford West Main Street District, which represents local establishments in both Orlando city and Orange County limits.

“I have witnessed the struggle of businesses that are directly across the street from each other to get open, to stay open, to fight zoning issues … and it was one of the main reasons I decided that I should run,” said Ziglar, who lives in Dover Estates and is a lifelong Orange County resident. “My small businesses that are located in the county will tell you that they don’t feel like they get anything. They feel like they are just adrift.”

Meanwhile, Orlando offers business assistance programs and facade improvement grants, and it has dedicated staff to help new businesses open, Ziglar said.

Orange County business owners are also annoyed that they have to go in person to file some permits instead of doing so online in today’s technology-driven world, she said.

“I have been working with the county, discussing with them those programs and how beneficial they can be,” Ziglar said. “Their economic development team has been open and receptive to the feedback, but it is a slow process.”

Now, Ziglar said she wants to run for public office and push for faster change.

“I don’t think it would be challenging to even create a small sign grant program that would allow businesses to improve their exteriors and have the proper signage that meets the current code,” Ziglar said, adding the county previously offered that help but later shut it down. “Those types of things could be done with money that exists.”

Ziglar is already campaigning for the election, just under two years away. She held her first canvas and plans to paint more after the holidays in 2026.