Top consumer complaints to FTC in 2006: identity theft, shop-at-home catalogues, lottery winnings

For the seventh year in a row, identity theft tops the list, accounting for 36 percent of the 674,354 complaints received between January 1 and December 31, 2006.

Top complaints to FTC in 2006
Top Categories Complaints %
Identity Theft 246,035 36%
Shop-at-Home
Catalog Sales
46,995 7%
Prizes/Sweepstakes
and Lotteries
45,587 7%
Internet Services and
Computer Complaints
41,243 6%
Internet Auctions 32,832 5%
Foreign Money Offers 20,411 3%
Advance-Fee Loans and
Credit Protection/Repair
10,857 2%
Magazines and
Buyers Clubs
8,924 1%
Telephone Services 8,165 1%
Health Care 7,467 1%
Business Opportunities and
Work-at-Home Plans
7,460 1%
Travel, Vacations,
and Timeshare
6,712 1%
Office Supplies
and Services
5,723 1%
Grants, Scholarships 5,310 1%
Employment Agencies, Job
Counselors, Overseas Work
4,485 1%
Investments 3,630 1%
Other Coded Complaints 12,399 2%
Source: FTC