Identity Theft Tops FTC Fraud Complaints in 2007

Thirty-two percent of all fraud complaints were related to Identity Theft, according to the FTC's latest report 'Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft - Complaint Data'.

With the number of actual complaints hovering below 300,000 - the FTC estimates that most people who are the victim of this type of theft do not report it.  A recent survey from the FTC found that the numbers were much higher, with 8.3 million Americans being the victim of some form of identity theft.

Highlights of the report include

• Total consumer fraud losses totaled $1.2 billion;
  
• Average monetary loss for an individual at $349;
• Most common fraud was Credit card fraud (23%);
• Utilities fraud (18%);
• Employment fraud (14%);
• Bank fraud (13%)

Areas with the most reported consumer fraud complaints:

• Albany-Lebanon, Oregon;
  
• Greeley, Colorado;
  
• Napa, California.