Information from FTC.gov: The Federal Trade Commission today released a report listing top complaints consumers filed with the agency in 2009. It shows that while identity theft remains the top complaint category, identity theft complaints declined 5 percentage points from 2008.
The report breaks out complaint data on a state-by-state basis and also contains data about the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest per capita incidence of fraud and other complaints. In addition, the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest incidence of identity theft are noted.
The top complaints were:
| Rank | Category | No. of Complaints | Percentages |
|
1
|
Identity Theft | 278,078 | 21% |
|
2
|
Third Party and Creditor Debt Collection | 119,549 | 9% |
|
3
|
Internet Services | 83,067 | 6% |
|
4
|
Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales | 74,581 | 6% |
|
5
|
Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams | 61,736 | 5% |
|
6
|
Internet Auction | 57,821 | 4% |
|
7
|
Credit Cards | 45,203 | 3% |
|
8
|
Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries | 41,763 | 3% |
|
9
|
Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection/Repair | 41,448 | 3% |
|
10
|
Banks and Lenders | 32,443 | 2% |
|
11
|
Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users | 31,629 | 2% |
|
12
|
Television and Electronic Media | 26,568 | 2% |
|
13
|
Health Care | 25,414 | 2% |
|
14
|
Business Opportunities, Employment Agencies and Work-at-Home Plans | 22,896 | 2% |
|
15
|
Computer Equipment and Software | 22,621 | 2% |
The Federal Trade Commission works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or call 1-877-382-4357.
For more information, go to FTC.gov.
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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.
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