Identity theft topped the Federal Trade Commission's 2003 list of consumer fraud complaints for the fourth consecutive year.
Some 42% of the complaints received by the FTC's consumer database were about identity theft, up from 40% in 2002. The median loss for victims of fraud was $228, with Internet-related fraud at $195, the FTC said last week.
The FTC received more than 500,000 complaints in 2003, up from 404,000 in 2002. Internet-related complaints added up to 55% of all fraud reports, up from 45% in 2002.
The top 10 complaint categories in 2003 include:
-
Internet auctions—15%
-
Shop-at-home/catalog sales—9%
-
Internet services and computer complaints—6%
-
Prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries—5%
-
Foreign money offers—4%
-
Telephone services—3%
-
Business opportunities and work-at-home plans—2%
-
Magazine buyers clubs—1%
-
Office supplies and services—1%
