Identity Theft Tops Complaints
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Identify theft, in its many forms is for the fifth year running, the largest source of complaints for the US Federal Trade Commission for the fifth year running. Over 39% of consumer fraud complaints filed with the agency in 2004. Most common modus operandi was credit card fraud (28%). Phone or utilities fraud and bank fraud came next with 19% and 18% respectively. Employment fraud trailled with 13%. The FTC joins information held on their database with law enforcement and consumer protection bodies to form a comprehensive database. The aim is to facilitate tracking of trends and avoid duplication. Reports of fraud can be filed by consumers on the FTC website. 246,570 complaints were made about ID theft. 388,603 regarded other types of fraud. In monetary terms the frauds amounted to $548m. The largest amount was for Internet frauds with $265m. Online auctions seem to be the focus here. If you are visiting Washington DC, Las Vegas and San Jose or California watch out. The FTC found these to be the worst places for reported fraud. In terms of stealing identity, Las Vegas (again); Phoenix, Arizona and San Bernardino, California had the highest per-capita reports of identity theft.
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