Identity Theft Tops Consumer Complaints for 2006

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft is the top consumer complaint for the seventh year in a row, accounting for 36 percent of the 674,354 complaints received between January 1 and December 31, 2006.

Identity theft can take a serious toll on victims' financial stability. The top 10 consumer scams for 2006 are:

1. Identity Theft
2. Shop-at-Home/Catalog Sales
3. Prizes/Sweepstakes and Lotteries
4. Internet Services and Computer Complaints
5. Internet Auctions
6. Foreign Money Offers
7. Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection/Repair
8. Magazines and Buyers Clubs
9. Telephone Services
10. Health Care

For the first time, the FTC has broken out the complaints by 350 metropolitan areas. You can view the top five complaints for several Virginia localities. For example, complaints on shop-at-home/catalog sales topped the list in Richmond and Roanoke, while prizes/sweepstakes and lotteries had the most complaints in Virginia Beach/Norfolk. Consumers filed the most complaints on Internet services in the Washington, D.C./Arlington/Alexandria area. Run a search for your area here on the FTC Web site.

More information on the full list of consumer complaints is available here.