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Top consumer complaint in 2010: Identity theft

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Fraudulent government documents and credit cards were the highest forms of identity theft complaints in 2010, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC received 250,854 complaints about identity theft, or 19% of the more than a million total complaints received. After identity theft, debt collection racked up the second highest number of complaints, making up 11% of overall complaints.

Identity theft was the top concern for consumers for the 11th year in a row, with most people reporting that these type of scams were initiated by email or through a website.

A few tips on protecting yourself against identity theft:

1. Use credit cards when you pay for items. They are more heavily protected by law. If possible, reduce the number of cards you carry around with you in your wallet.

2. Monitor your bank account closely and immediately report anything that looks unusual or out of place to you. Also, check your credit report once a year for any discrepancies.

3. Never give out your Social Security number or other sensitive information over the phone, via emial, or over the Internet unless you are certain you can trust the business or other entity to protect your privacy.

4. Make sure any new credit or debit cards arrive on time and, if they don't, contact your bank immediately.

5. Create passwords that are more difficult for scammers to detect, such as those that combine numbers and letters. Do not use sensitive information, like bank account numbers, or easily discovered information, such as your date of birth. Make sure any passwords are not stored in your wallet.

To learn more about how to protect yourself from identity fraud, visit Consumer Action's comprehensive library of publications on the topic or visit the Federal Trade Commission's identity theft website.

To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).