US Fraud and Identity Theft Statistics

This information is derived from a study by the Federal Trade Commission. The report can be read here.

> Consumers reported losses from fraud of over $547 million. (note: this does not include all issuer and merchant losses)

> 39% of the complaints were about Identity Theft and 61% were about Fraud.

> The median monetary loss owing to fraud was $259.

> 53% - 57% of fraud complaints were internet related.

> The main types of fraud are Internet Auction (16%), Shop at Home/Catalog Sales (8%) and Foreign Money Offers (6%)

> The main problems with identity theft are credit card fraud (28%), phone or utility fraud (19%) and bank fraud (18%)

> The worst metropolitan areas for fraud are (measured by complaints per 100,000 population)
- Washington - Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV(183.7)
- San Jose - Sunnyvale - Santa Clara, CA (172.1)
- Las Vegas - Paradise, NV (171.4)
- Columbus, OH (169)
- Phoenix - Mesa - Scottsdale, AZ (167.1)