FTC Releases Annual Summary of Complaints Reported by Consumers – Top Three Categories Debt Collection, ID Theft, and Imposter Scams

The FTC produces the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book annually using reports received by the Consumer Sentinel Network. These include reports made directly by consumers to the FTC, as well as reports received by state and federal law enforcement agencies, national consumer protection organizations, and non-governmental organizations. The data book includes complaints from 2.68 million consumers, a decrease from 2016 when 2.98 million consumers submitted reports about fraud, identity theft and other types of consumer concerns. Despite this, consumers reported losing a total of $905 million to fraud in 2017 — $63 million more than in 2016. The data book includes national statistics, as well as a state-by-state listing of top report categories in each state, and a listing of metropolitan areas that generated the most complaints per capita. This year the FTC has developed a mini site to make the information in the 2017 data book more accessible for the public.