for January – December 2015

Federal Trade Commission

February 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Federal Trade Commission Page 1 of 102 Released February 2016

Report Subject Page No. 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Type Percentages by Calendar Year . . . . . . . . 4

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Count by Calendar Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints

Total Number of Fraud Complaints & Amount Paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Method of Consumer Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Company’s Method of Contacting Consumers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Fraud Complaints by Consumer Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Top Company Countries and Foreign Company’s Method of Contacting Consumers . . 11

Consumer Sentinel Network Identity Theft Complaints 

How Identity Theft Victims’ Information is Misused . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Law Enforcement Contact by Identity Theft Victims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Identity Theft Complaints by Victims’ Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Consumer Sentinel Network State and Metropolitan Areas Ranking

State Complaint Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Largest Metropolitan Areas Ranking for Fraud & Other Complaints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Largest Metropolitan Areas Ranking for Identity Theft Complaints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Consumer Sentinel Network Military Complaints 

Military Complaints by Branch, Status and Pay Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Military Complaints by Top Complaint Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

How Military Identity Theft Victims’ Information is Misused . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Consumer Sentinel Network Detailed State Complaint Information

One Page per State and the District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

-Top Fraud & Other Complaint Categories || Identity Theft Types Reported by Victims

Appendices

Appendix A1: Description of the Consumer Sentinel Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Appendix A2: Major Data Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Appendix A3: Data Contributor Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Appendix A4: Better Business Bureau Data Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Appendix B1: Complaint Category Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Appendix B2: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Categories (2013 – 2015) . . . . . 79

Appendix B3: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Category Details . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Appendix C: Fraud Complaints & Amount Paid Reported by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Appendix D1: Fraud & Other Complaints by Largest Metropolitan Areas . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Complaints by Largest Metropolitan Areas . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Better Business Bureaus

Consumer Financial 

Protection Bureau

Internal Revenue Service

National Consumers 

League

PrivacyStar

Publishers Clearing 

House

Canadian 

Anti-Fraud Centre

Ohio 

Attorney General

North Carolina 

Department of Justice

Washington 

Attorney General

Massachusetts 

Attorney General

Maine 

Attorney General

California 

Attorney General

Indiana 

Attorney General

The Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) is a secure online database of

millions of consumer complaints available only to law enforcement. In

addition to storing complaints received by the FTC, the CSN also includes

complaints filed with state law enforcement organizations such as the Hawaii

Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North Carolina and Oregon

Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs,

the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys

General for Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana,

Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington.

Federal agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the

Internal Revenue Service, contribute data. The Commission also receives

complaints from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Non-governmental

organizations also provide complaint data to the FTC. The Council of Better

Business Bureaus, consisting of all North American BBBs, is a major

contributor of complaint data. Other organizations include PrivacyStar and

the National Consumers League.

Law enforcement partners - whether they are down the street, across the

nation, or around the world - can use information in the database to enhance

and coordinate investigations. Non-government organizations that contribute

complaint data cannot see CSN complaints. Access to CSN is limited to law

enforcement organizations.

Begun in 1997 to collect fraud and identity theft complaints, the CSN now has

almost 12 million complaints on a wide variety of subjects. The CSN has a

five-year data retention policy; complaints older than five years are purged

biannually. Between January and December 2015, the CSN received more

than 3 million consumer complaints, which the FTC has sorted into 30

complaint categories. Some organizations transfer their complaints to the

CSN after the end of the calendar year, and new data providers, added to the

system each year, are contributing complaints from prior years. As a result,

the total number of complaints for 2015 will increase during the next few

months, and totals from previous years may differ from prior CSN annual

reports.

The 2015 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book is based on unverified

complaints reported by consumers. The data is not based on a consumer

survey.

For more information about the Consumer Sentinel Network, visit

www.FTC.gov/sentinel. Law enforcement personnel may join CSN at

Register.ConsumerSentinel.gov.

INTRODUCTION

Leading Data Contributors

www.FTC.gov/sentinel www.econsumer.gov

For a detailed description of the CSN and a complete list of our data contributors, see Appendices A1 through A4.

www.IdentityTheft.gov

Federal Trade Commission Page 2 of 102 Released February 2016
Federal Trade Commission Page 3 of 102 Released February 2016

Executive Summary 

Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book

January – December 2015

 The Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) contains almost 12 million complaints dating from calendar year 2011 

through calendar year 2015. (In addition, the CSN contains over 16 million do-not-call complaints from this 

same time period. We report on do-not-call complaints after the end of each fiscal year. See 

http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/national-do-not-call-registry-data-book-fiscal-year2015/dncdatabookfy2015.pdf for the 2015 National Do Not Call Registry Data Book.)

 The CSN received over 3 million complaints (excluding do-not-call) during calendar year 2015: 40% fraud 

complaints; 16% identity theft complaints; and 44% other types of complaints.

 Debt Collection was the number one complaint category in the CSN for calendar year 2015 with 29% of the 

overall complaints, followed by Identity Theft (16%); Impostor Scams (11%); Telephone and Mobile Services 

(9%); Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries (5%); Banks and Lenders (4%); Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 

(3%); Auto-Related Complaints (3%); and Television and Electronic Media (2%). The complete ranking of 

all 30 complaint categories is listed on page six of this report. 

 Debt collection moved to the number one complaint category in 2015 due to a large increase in complaints 

from one data contributor.

 For military consumers, Identity Theft was the number one complaint category in the CSN, followed by 

Impostor Scams at number two. 

Fraud

 Over 1.2 million complaints were fraud-related. Consumers reported paying over $765 million in those fraud 

complaints; the median amount paid was $400. Fifty-three percent of the consumers who reported a fraudrelated complaint also reported an amount paid.

 Fifty-two percent of all fraud-related complaints reported the method of initial contact. Of those complaints, 

75% said the telephone and 8% said e-mail. Only 4% of those consumers reported mail as the initial point of 

contact. 

 Florida is the state with the highest per capita rate of reported fraud and other types of complaints, followed by 

Georgia and Michigan.

Identity Theft 

 Tax- or wage-related fraud (45%) was the most common form of reported identity theft, followed by credit 

card fraud (16%), phone or utilities fraud (10%), and bank fraud (6%). Other significant categories of identity 

theft reported by victims were loan fraud (4%) and employment-related fraud (3%). 

 Thirty-seven percent of identity theft complainants reported they contacted law enforcement. Of those 

victims, 89% indicated a report was taken. 

 Missouri is the state with the highest per capita rate of reported identity theft complaints, followed by 

Connecticut and Florida.
CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Complaint Type Percentages1

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of Consumer Sentinel Network complaints by calendar year.

3,083,379

40%

44%

2,629,987 16%

60%

27%

2,175,355 13%

31%

56%

13%

Federal Trade Commission Page 4 of 102 Released February 2016

- Identity Theft Complaints

- Fraud Complaints

- Other Complaints 

Complaint Types
325,519

551,622

713,657

860,383 909,314 906,129

1,070,447

1,261,124

1,428,977 1,470,306

1,898,543

2,113,615

2,175,355

2,629,987

3,083,379

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Complaint Count1

Calendar Years 2001 through 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 5 of 102 Released February 2016

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Complaint Type Count1

Calendar Years 2001 through 2015

Purged Data1

1Complaint counts from CY-2001 to CY-2010 represent historical figures as per the Consumer Sentinel Network’s five-year data retention 

policy. These complaint figures exclude National Do Not Call Registry complaints. 

Fraud Identity Theft Other 

2001 137,306 86,250 101,963 325,519

2002 242,783 161,977 146,862 551,622

2003 331,366 215,240 167,051 713,657

2004 410,298 246,909 203,176 860,383

2005 437,585 255,687 216,042 909,314

2006 423,672 246,214 236,243 906,129

2007 505,563 259,314 305,570 1,070,447

2008 620,832 314,587 325,705 1,261,124

2009 708,781 278,360 441,836 1,428,977

2010 820,072 251,074 399,160 1,470,306

2011 1,041,517 279,191 577,835 1,898,543

2012 1,112,627 369,145 631,843 2,113,615

2013 1,212,719 290,102 672,534 2,175,355

2014 1,578,565 332,647 718,775 2,629,987

2015 1,246,849 490,220 1,346,310 3,083,379

Calendar Year

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Count

Total Complaints
1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints (3,083,379) received by the FTC between January 1 and 

December 31, 2015. Four percent (126,482) of the CSN complaints received by the FTC were coded “Other (Note in 

Comments).” For CSN category descriptions, details and three-year figures, see Appendices B1 through B3.

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Complaint Categories1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 6 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Category

No. of 

Complaints Percentages1 

1 Debt Collection 897,655 29%

2 Identity Theft 490,220 16%

3 Impostor Scams 353,770 11%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 275,754 9%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 140,136 5%

6 Banks and Lenders 131,875 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 96,363 3%

8 Auto-Related Complaints 93,917 3%

9 Television and Electronic Media 47,728 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users 43,939 1%

11 Internet Services 40,106 1%

12 Credit Cards 37,750 1%

13 Health Care 34,669 1%

14 Investment-Related Complaints 26,453 1%

15 Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams 25,324 1%

16 Advance Payments for Credit Services 24,433 1%

17 Travel, Vacations and Timeshare Plans 24,171 1%

18 Business and Job Opportunities 17,314 1%

19 Office Supplies and Services 10,287 <1%

20 Mortgage Foreclosure Relief and Debt Management 10,210 <1%

21 Magazines and Books 8,866 <1%

22 Home Repair, Improvement and Products 8,364 <1%

23 Computer Equipment and Software 8,119 <1%

24 Education 6,973 <1%

25 Grants 4,077 <1%

26 Tax Preparers 2,991 <1%

27 Charitable Solicitations 2,747 <1%

28 Internet Auction 2,430 <1%

29 Buyers' Clubs 1,168 <1%

30 Funeral Services 1,123 <1%
Amount Paid

$0 314,771 43% 420,648 49% 376,231 57%

$1 - 25 15,489 2% 14,958 2% 9,592 1%

$26 - 50 21,260 3% 20,148 2% 13,677 2%

$51 - 75 13,974 2% 13,595 2% 10,031 2%

$76 - 100 24,444 3% 23,717 3% 14,556 2%

$101 - 250 86,144 12% 83,320 10% 60,025 9%

$251 - 500 91,209 12% 125,215 14% 58,520 9%

$501 - 1,000 53,213 7% 54,659 6% 46,255 7%

$1,001 - 5,000 81,889 11% 80,090 9% 58,989 9%

More than $5,000 28,993 4% 29,555 3% 15,076 2%

CY - 2013 CY - 2015

Complaints Percentages4 Complaints Percentages4 Complaints Percentages4

CY - 2014

Total 

Reporting 

Amount Paid Reported1 Average2 Median3

2013 1,212,719 731,386 60% $1,648,853,682 $2,254 $388

2014 1,578,565 865,905 55% $1,713,769,260 $1,979 $499

2015 1,246,849 662,952 53% $765,256,827 $1,154 $400

CY

Complaint Count

Percentage Reporting 

Amount Paid

Amount Paid

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Total Number of Fraud Complaints & Amount Paid

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1The decrease in reported amount paid between 2014 and 2015 is due primarily to the loss of a significant data contributor.

2Average is based on the total number of consumers who reported an amount paid for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 731,386; CY-2014 = 

865,905; and CY-2015 = 662,952. The amount paid is based on complaints with reported values from $0 to $999,999.

3Median is the middle number in a set of numbers so that half the numbers have values that are greater than the median and half have values 

that are less. Calculation of the median excludes complaints with amount paid reported as $0.

Note: See Appendix C for fraud complaints and amount paid figures by State and the District of Columbia.

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Distribution of Fraud Complaints by Amount Paid 

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

4Percentages are based on the total number of consumers who reported amount paid for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 731,386; CY-2014 = 

865,905; and CY-2015 = 662,952. 

Federal Trade Commission Page 7 of 102 Released February 2016
Complaints Percentages1 Amount Paid3 Complaints Percentages1 Amount Paid3 Complaints Percentages1 Amount Paid3

Bank Account Debit 35,378 11% $94,673,776 38,541 11% $85,430,891 18,858 8% $39,946,501

Cash\Cash Advance 16,389 5% $170,591,441 17,337 5% $168,986,988 7,851 3% $45,030,742

Check 12,905 4% $73,095,617 12,921 4% $88,636,754 7,600 3% $65,490,095

Credit Cards 38,420 12% $89,845,976 46,770 13% $96,462,148 34,315 14% $45,478,104

Internet\Mobile 4,506 1% $4,110,480 5,738 2% $9,402,354 5,686 2% $9,016,254

Money Order 9,308 3% $57,996,260 8,712 2% $56,275,452 3,298 1% $12,428,774

Prepaid Cards2 98,211 30% $47,184,062 129,209 35% $85,147,208 14,565 6% $19,046,485

Telephone Bill 733 <1% $342,137 1,029 <1% $870,511 1,101 <1% $714,428

Wire Transfer2 107,225 33% $510,831,644 106,506 29% $501,184,749 145,726 61% $283,175,122

Total Reporting 

Payment Method 323,075 $1,048,671,393 366,763 $1,092,397,056 239,000 $520,326,505

Payment Method

CY - 2013 CY - 2014 CY - 2015

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Bank

Account

Debit

Cash\Cash

Advance

Check Credit

Cards

Internet\Mobile

Payment

Services

Money

Order

Prepaid

Cards

Telephone

Bill

Wire

Transfer

8%

3% 3%

14%

2% 1%

6%

<1%

61%

Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints 

by Method of Consumer Payment1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints 

by Method of Consumer Payment 

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 8 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud complaints for each calendar year where consumers reported the method of payment: CY-2013 = 

323,075; CY-2014 = 366,763; and CY-2015 = 239,000. Of the total, 19% reported this information during CY-2015, 23% in CY-2014 and 27% in CY-2013. 

2Prepaid Cards includes a significant number of complaints from data contributor Green Dot and Wire Transfer includes a significant number of complaints 

from data contributors MoneyGram International and Western Union. This may affect the distribution of the reported methods of payment.

3The amount paid is based on complaints reporting values from $0 to $999,999.

2 2
Contact Method Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1 

Phone 230,462 41% 386,807 54% 485,481 75%

E-mail 184,469 32% 166,545 23% 54,089 8%

Internet - Web Site\Others 82,757 15% 79,900 11% 39,728 6%

Mail 29,089 5% 29,113 4% 28,127 4%

Other 41,878 7% 48,143 7% 43,392 7%

Total Reporting Contact 

Method 568,655 710,508 650,817

CY - 2013 CY - 2014 CY - 2015

Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints by 

Company’s Method of Contacting Consumers

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 9 of 102 Released February 2016

75%

8%

6%

4%

7%

Phone

E-mail

Internet - Web

Site\Others

Mail

Other

Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints 

by Company’s Method of Contacting Consumers1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud complaints for each calendar year where consumers reported the company’s

method of initial contact: CY-2013 = 568,655; CY-2014 = 710,508; and CY-2015 = 650,817. Of the total, 52% reported this information 

during CY-2015, 45% in CY-2014 and 47% for CY-2013.
1%

11%

15%

16%

20%

21%

16%

19 and Under

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 and Over

1Percentages are based on the total number of consumers reporting their age for CSN fraud complaints each calendar year: CY-2013 = 

461,514; CY-2014 = 607,865; and CY-2015 = 468,389. Of the total, 38% of consumers reported this information during CY-2015, 39% in 

CY-2014 and 38% for CY-2013.

Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints

by Consumer Age1

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints 

by Consumer Age1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 10 of 102 Released February 2016

Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1 

19 and Under 11,093 2% 12,656 2% 6,339 1%

20-29 67,608 15% 83,398 14% 50,926 11%

30-39 77,124 17% 102,108 17% 68,393 15%

40-49 86,648 19% 111,126 18% 75,350 16%

50-59 94,509 20% 127,742 21% 95,377 20%

60-69 74,580 16% 110,973 18% 96,860 21%

70 and Over 49,952 11% 59,862 10% 75,144 16%

607,865 468,389

Consumer Age 

CY - 2013 CY - 2014 CY - 2015

Total Reporting 

Age 461,514
Contact Method Complaints Percentages2 

Phone 9,778 36%

E-mail 5,989 22%

Internet - Web Site\Others 5,170 19%

Mail 2,718 13%

Other 3,608 10%

Rank Company Country Complaints Percentages1

1 United States 1,108,331 96%

2 Canada 17,124 1%

3 United Kingdom 7,591 1%

4 Nigeria 7,501 1%

5 India 7,451 1%

6 Jamaica 6,546 1%

7 China 5,451 <1%

8 Mexico 4,299 <1%

9 Dominican Republic 3,444 <1%

10 Ghana 2,439 <1%

Consumer Sentinel Network

Top 10 Reported Company Countries 

for Fraud Complaints1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 11 of 102 Released February 2016

Company’s Method of Contacting Consumers for 

Fraud Complaints Against Foreign Companies2

January 1 – December 31, 2015

2Percentages are based on the 27,263 fraud complaints against foreign companies received by the FTC between January 1 and 

December 31, 2015, where consumers reported how companies initially contacted them. Complaints which reported a 

company country other than the United States were considered foreign for these figures.

1Percentages are based on the number of fraud complaints received by the FTC between January 1 and December 31, 2015, 

where consumers reported a company country name (1,150,931). Ninety-two percent of CSN fraud complaints received by 

the FTC during this time period reported the company country name. 

Note: Company country names appear as reported by consumers and may not reflect where the company is actually located. 
Consumer Sentinel Network Identity Theft Complaints 

How Victims’ Information is Misused1

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN identity theft complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 290,102; CY-2014 =

332,647; and CY-2015 = 490,220. Note that 14% of identity theft complaints include more than one type of identity theft in CY-2015, 17% 

in CY-2014 and 16% in CY-2013.

2Theft Subtype “Other Deposit Accounts” was added to the database in CY-2014.

3Theft Subtype “Prepaid Debit Cards” was added to the database in CY-2014.

Federal Trade Commission Page 12 of 102 Released February 2016

Employment-Related Fraud

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Employment-Related Fraud 5.6% 4.9% 3.3%

Bank Fraud

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Electronic Fund Transfer 3.7% 3.3% 2.3%

New Accounts 2.2% 2.8% 2.0%

Existing Accounts 1.8% 1.5% 1.1%

Other Deposit Accounts2 - 0.6% 0.5%

Total 7.7% 8.2% 5.9%

Attempted Identity Theft

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Attempted Identity Theft 7.2% 4.8% 3.7%

Credit Card Fraud

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

New Accounts 11.2% 12.5% 11.6%

Existing Accounts 5.7% 4.9% 4.2%

Total 16.9% 17.4% 15.8%

Other Identity Theft

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Uncertain 8.5% 11.2% 10.8%

Data Breach 1.3% 2.1% 3.0%

Internet \ Email 1.7% 1.5% 1.2%

Miscellaneous 8.7% 3.3% 1.2%

Medical 1.0% 1.0% 0.8%

Evading the Law 1.0% 0.9% 0.6%

Apartment or House Rented 0.5% 0.6% 0.5%

Insurance 0.3% 0.4% 0.4%

Prepaid Debit Cards3 - 0.3% 0.3%

Securities \ Other Investments 0.2% 0.1% 0.1%

Property Rental Fraud 0.1% 0.1% 0.1%

Bankruptcy 0.1% 0.2% 0.1%

Child Support 0.1% 0.1% 0.1%

Magazines 0.1% <0.1% <0.1%

Total 23.6% 21.9% 19.2%

Government Documents or Benefits Fraud

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Tax- or Wage-Related Fraud 30.1% 32.8% 45.3%

Government Benefits 2.4% 4.1% 2.5%

 Applied For \ Received

Other Government Documents 1.0% 1.3% 1.1%

 Issued \ Forged

Driver's License Issued \ Forged 0.6% 0.5% 0.3%

Total 34.1% 38.7% 49.2%

Loan Fraud

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Business \ Personal \ 2.1% 2.6% 2.1%

 Student Loan

Auto Loan \ Lease 1.1% 1.1% 0.8%

Real Estate Loan 0.8% 0.7% 0.6%

Total 4.0% 4.4% 3.5%

Phone or Utilities Fraud

Percentages Percentages Percentages

Theft Subtype CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015

Utilities - New Accounts 8.9% 7.6% 5.1%

Wireless - New Accounts 3.5% 3.5% 3.7%

Unauthorized Charges 0.6% 0.7% 0.6%

 to Existing Accounts

Telephone - New Accounts 0.6% 0.7% 0.5%

Total 13.6% 12.5% 9.9%
2Percentages are based on the total number of identity theft complaints where victims indicated they had notified a police department: CY2013 = 86,063; CY-2014 = 107,855; and CY-2015 = 180,743. Of the total, 37% of identity theft victims reported law enforcement contact 

information in CY-2015, 32% in CY-2014 and 30% in CY-2013.

89% of Victims 

Who Notified a 

Police Department 

Had a Report 

Taken

11% of Victims 

Who Notified a 

Police Department 

Did NOT Indicate 

a Report Was Taken

Consumer Sentinel Network Identity Theft Complaints 

Law Enforcement Contact1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of identity theft complaints where victims indicated they had notified a police department 

(180,743). Thirty-seven percent of identity theft victims reported law enforcement contact information. 

Law Enforcement Contact

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 13 of 102 Released February 2016

Complaints Percentages2 Complaints Percentages2 Complaints Percentages2

Yes 70,812 82% 94,517 88% 160,520 89%

No\Not Reported 15,251 18% 13,338 12% 20,223 11%

Total Who Notified a Police Department 86,063 107,855 180,743

CY-2013 CY-2014 CY-2015
1Percentages are based on the total number of victims reporting their age in CSN identity theft complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 

= 254,934; CY-2014 = 278,476; and CY-2015 = 410,128. Of the consumers who contacted the FTC, 84% reported their age in CY-2015, 

84% in CY-2014 and 88% in CY-2013.

Consumer Sentinel Network Identity Theft Complaints 

by Victims’ Age1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Consumer Sentinel Network Identity Theft Complaints

by Victims’ Age 

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 14 of 102 Released February 2016

5%

14%

16%

20%

24%

15%

6%

19 and Under

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 and Over

Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1 

19 and Under 15,226 6% 15,511 5% 20,905 5%

20-29 48,697 19% 46,765 17% 55,763 14%

30-39 47,682 19% 49,055 18% 65,850 16%

40-49 45,246 18% 51,569 18% 81,937 20%

50-59 44,084 17% 55,243 20% 97,308 24%

60-69 31,896 12% 38,392 14% 62,060 15%

70 and Over 22,103 9% 21,941 8% 26,305 6%

Total Reporting 

Age 254,934 278,476 410,128

Consumer Age

CY - 2013 CY - 2014 CY - 2015
1Per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2015 U.S. Census population estimates (Table NST-EST2015-01 -- Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015). Numbers for the District of Columbia are: Fraud and Others = 

8,928 complaints and 1,328.1 complaints per 100,000 population; Identity Theft = 1,533 victims and 228.0 victims per 100,000 population. 

Consumer Sentinel Network State Complaint Rates

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Fraud & Other Complaints Identity Theft Complaints

Federal Trade Commission Page 15 of 102 Released February 2016

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer 

Protection, the Montana, North Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of 

Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, 

Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, and Washington).

Rank Consumer State

Complaints 

Per 100,000 

Population1

1 Florida 1,510.2 306,133

2 Georgia 1,208.3 123,429

3 Michigan 1,143.6 113,474

4 Texas 941.3 258,579

5 Nevada 836.9 24,194

6 Delaware 807.8 7,641

7 Rhode Island 764.7 8,078

8 California 750.2 293,662

9 Maryland 749.0 44,985

10 Alabama 738.1 35,865

11 Tennessee 670.3 44,241

12 Louisiana 663.7 30,999

13 Virginia 645.3 54,093

14 New Jersey 626.5 56,121

15 Pennsylvania 626.3 80,180

16 Arizona 623.5 42,575

17 Missouri 609.3 37,068

18 Ohio 606.8 70,470

19 New Mexico 594.1 12,387

20 Colorado 592.6 32,333

21 New Hampshire 572.0 7,611

22 Massachusetts 557.6 37,884

23 Connecticut 554.1 19,898

24 South Carolina 553.3 27,091

25 North Carolina 550.3 55,266

26 New York 524.9 103,918

27 Illinois 517.2 66,510

28 Mississippi 516.3 15,450

29 Indiana 511.1 33,836

30 Oregon 506.0 20,387

31 Washington 505.7 36,264

32 Oklahoma 493.6 19,307

33 Arkansas 478.4 14,248

34 Kentucky 467.2 20,674

35 Maine 447.1 5,943

36 West Virginia 446.8 8,240

37 Montana 442.6 4,572

37 Wisconsin 442.6 25,544

39 Minnesota 438.2 24,055

40 Kansas 426.9 12,430

41 Idaho 423.1 7,002

42 Wyoming 415.5 2,435

43 Vermont 406.7 2,546

44 Nebraska 403.3 7,648

45 Utah 396.2 11,870

46 Alaska 395.0 2,917

47 Hawaii 371.3 5,315

48 South Dakota 356.0 3,056

49 Iowa 349.2 10,909

50 North Dakota 278.8 2,110

Complaints Rank Victim State

Complaints 

Per 100,000 

Population1

1 Missouri 364.3 22,164

2 Connecticut 225.0 8,078

3 Florida 217.4 44,063

4 Maryland 183.2 11,006

5 Illinois 158.7 20,414

6 Michigan 158.1 15,684

7 Georgia 149.1 15,230

8 Texas 144.3 39,630

9 New Hampshire 142.0 1,890

10 California 141.3 55,305

11 Rhode Island 141.2 1,491

12 Ohio 134.4 15,611

12 Wisconsin 134.4 7,756

14 Arizona 133.8 9,136

15 Washington 126.1 9,043

15 Oregon 126.1 5,081

17 New Jersey 125.8 11,266

18 Massachusetts 125.5 8,530

19 Nevada 125.0 3,613

20 Delaware 124.9 1,181

21 Colorado 123.2 6,724

21 Virginia 123.2 10,329

23 New York 122.0 24,157

24 Oklahoma 120.0 4,695

25 Pennsylvania 116.2 14,877

26 Maine 113.9 1,514

27 Kansas 112.7 3,282

28 Tennessee 107.9 7,121

29 North Carolina 106.0 10,646

30 Alabama 102.3 4,973

30 South Carolina 102.3 5,010

32 Idaho 101.3 1,676

33 New Mexico 101.1 2,109

34 Nebraska 100.5 1,905

35 Mississippi 98.8 2,955

36 Minnesota 97.8 5,368

37 Arkansas 97.7 2,911

38 Wyoming 96.6 566

39 Louisiana 94.4 4,410

40 Alaska 94.3 696

41 Indiana 93.9 6,217

42 Iowa 89.7 2,803

43 Montana 87.2 901

44 Utah 85.7 2,567

45 Vermont 83.9 525

46 Kentucky 80.9 3,581

47 West Virginia 79.9 1,474

48 North Dakota 76.0 575

49 South Dakota 63.1 542

50 Hawaii 62.6 896

Complaints
Rank Metropolitan Area

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Complaints

1 Homosassa Springs, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,290.0 1,798

2 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 717.0 870

3 Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 641.6 1,754

4 Prescott, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 596.8 1,306

5 Dover, DE Metropolitan Statistical Area 592.5 1,019

6 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 566.6 34,185

7 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 551.1 3,069

8 Santa Fe, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 550.7 816

9 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 538.7 2,250

10 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 529.6 675

11 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 526.4 3,211

12 Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 522.6 10,816

13 Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 521.7 7,404

14 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 515.2 15,020

15 Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 511.9 741

16 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 504.8 14,063

17 Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 504.5 850

18 Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 496.9 576

19 Wooster, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area 489.9 566

20 Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 487.7 6,145

21 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 487.5 11,603

22 Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 485.7 648

23 Missoula, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 485.4 547

24 Montgomery, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 484.8 1,809

25 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 482.3 28,598

26 Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 482.2 2,143

27 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 480.5 2,278

28 North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 480.2 3,595

29 East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 479.2 797

30 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 475.3 26,684

31 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 471.1 12,974

32 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 470.4 10,921

33 Ocala, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 470.0 1,594

34 Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 467.3 20,978

35 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 467.2 8,376

36 Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 463.9 751

37 Columbus, GA-AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 460.8 1,447

38 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 460.7 2,492

39 Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 460.5 3,163

39 Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 460.5 6,186

41 Trenton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 457.8 1,701

42 Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 457.1 5,228

43 Killeen-Temple, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 454.7 1,932

44 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 452.4 1,245

45 Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 451.2 9,310

46 Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 450.8 1,994

47 Texarkana, TX-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 450.3 672

48 Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 447.3 2,436

49 Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 446.9 1,136

50 Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 446.1 3,571

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Largest Metropolitan Areas Ranking for 

Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 16 of 102 Released February 2016

1Ranking is based on the number of fraud and other types of complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. This chart illustrates the top 50 Metropolitan 

Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. See fraud and other types of complaints figures for all 

Metropolitan Areas with a population of 100,000 or more in Appendix D1. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as 

of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: 

Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the 

Montana, North Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the 

Offices of the Attorneys General for Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and 

Washington).
Rank Metropolitan Area

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Complaints

1 St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 684.0 19,195

2 California-Lexington Park, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 356.9 394

3 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 300.7 17,832

4 Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 256.1 421

5 Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 253.9 2,400

6 Muncie, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 241.7 283

7 Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 237.4 828

8 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 235.9 2,865

9 Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 227.4 343

10 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 220.4 9,468

11 Columbia, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 219.4 379

12 Torrington, CT Micropolitan Statistical Area 216.8 401

13 Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 216.6 3,405

14 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 213.5 6,225

15 Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 211.8 796

16 Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 208.4 2,958

17 New Haven-Milford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 206.2 1,776

18 Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 203.7 557

19 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 192.2 13,364

20 Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 191.4 683

21 Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 191.3 850

22 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 191.2 4,439

23 North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 188.2 1,409

24 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 185.6 10,418

25 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 184.6 5,144

26 Racine, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 180.4 352

27 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 179.5 11,652

28 Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 179.3 302

29 Homosassa Springs, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 177.9 248

30 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 175.6 10,597

31 Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 174.8 253

32 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 174.1 1,183

33 San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 173.4 7,968

34 Dayton, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 170.7 1,367

35 Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 168.9 1,637

36 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 167.9 935

36 The Villages, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 167.9 192

38 Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 166.7 3,440

39 Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 165.6 714

40 Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 164.6 314

41 Manchester-Nashua, NH Metropolitan Statistical Area 164.1 665

42 Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 162.5 1,163

43 Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 161.9 2,175

44 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 161.8 1,027

44 Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 161.8 732

46 Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 161.7 3,348

47 Charlottesville, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 161.3 366

48 Norwich-New London, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 158.9 435

49 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 156.1 952

50 Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 154.9 982

Consumer Sentinel Network

Largest Metropolitan Areas Ranking for 

Identity Theft Consumer Complaints1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Ranking is based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. This chart illustrates the top 50 Metropolitan Areas 

(Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. See identity theft figures for all Metropolitan Areas with a 

population of 100,000 or more in Appendix D2. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual 

Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 17 of 102 Released February 2016
Military Pay Grade Complaints Percentages3

DoD Civilian 752 2%

E1-E3 8,163 26%

E4 3,871 12%

E5-E6 9,456 30%

E7-E9 3,668 11%

O1-O3 2,056 6%

O4-O6 3,136 10%

O7 and Above 252 1%

W1-W5 621 2%

Total 31,975 

Military Status Complaints Percentages2

Active Duty Service Member 7,037 7%

Dependent Child\Other - DoD Civilian 1,173 1%

Dependent Child\Other - Service Member 4,015 4%

Dependent Spouse - DoD Civilian 2,577 3%

Dependent Spouse - Service Member 12,854 13%

DoD Civilian 807 1%

Inactive Reserve\National Guard 5,625 6%

Military Retiree\Veteran 64,581 65%

Total 98,669 

Military Branch Complaints Percentages1

U.S. Army 45,976 48%

U.S. Navy 20,559 21%

U.S. Air Force 19,006 20%

U.S. Marines 9,238 10%

U.S. Coast Guard 1,799 2%

Total 96,578 

Consumer Sentinel Network Military Complaints 

by Consumer Military Branch 

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Military Complaints 

by Consumer Military Pay Grade

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN 

complaints from military consumers reporting their 

branch of service (96,578) between January 1 and 

December 31, 2015. Of the 109,934 military consumers, 

88% reported this information during CY-2015.

3Percentages are based on the total number of 

CSN complaints from military consumers 

reporting their pay grade (31,975) between 

January 1 and December 31, 2015. Of the 

109,934 military consumers, 29% reported this 

information during CY-2015.

Federal Trade Commission Page 18 of 102 Released February 2016

Consumer Sentinel Network 

Military Complaints 

by Consumer Military Status

January 1 – December 31, 2015

2Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints from 

military consumers reporting their military status (98,669) between 

January 1 and December 31, 2015. Of the 109,934 military 

consumers, 90% reported this information during CY-2015.
Rank Category Complaints Percentages3

1 Identity Theft 2,036 34%

2 Impostor Scams 1,407 23%

3 Debt Collection 521 9%

4 Banks and Lenders 447 7%

5 Credit Bureaus, Information 

Furnishers and Report Users

 4% 247

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 146 2%

7 Credit Cards 119 2%

8 Telephone and Mobile Services 111 2%

9 Auto-Related Complaints 94 2%

10 Internet Services 74 1%

Rank Category Complaints Percentages2

1 Identity Theft 6,620 26%

2 Debt Collection 4,831 19%

3 Impostor Scams 4,144 16%

4 Banks and Lenders 2,783 11%

5 Credit Bureaus, Information 

Furnishers and Report Users

 4% 1,033

6 Auto-Related Complaints 618 2%

7 Credit Cards 526 2%

8 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 507 2%

8 Telephone and Mobile Services 460 2%

10 Internet Services 275 1%

Rank Category Complaints Percentages1

1 Identity Theft 32,916 30%

2 Impostor Scams 32,252 29%

3 Debt Collection 8,360 8%

4 Banks and Lenders 6,327 6%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,325 2%

6 Education 2,194 2%

7 Telephone and Mobile Services 2,098 2%

8 Auto-Related Complaints 1,959 2%

9 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,907 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users 1,834 2%

11 Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams 1,381 1%

12 Credit Cards 1,089 1%

13 Internet Services 821 1%

14 Health Care 694 1%

15 Television and Electronic Media 626 1%

16 Business and Job Opportunities 473 <1%

17 Home Repair, Improvement and Products 456 <1%

18 Mortgage Foreclosure Relief and Debt Management 363 <1%

19 Travel, Vacations and Timeshare Plans 345 <1%

20 Advance Payments for Credit Services 305 <1%

Consumer Sentinel Network Military

Complaints by Top Category

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN Military complaints (109,934) received between 

January 1 and December 31, 2015. Eleven percent of these complaints were coded in the Other 

category.

Top Categories for Complaints from 

Enlisted Military Consumers 

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Top Categories for Complaints from 

Officer Military Consumers 

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 19 of 102 Released February 2016

2Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints 

(25,158) from military consumers reporting an enlisted rank received 

between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Eight percent of these 

complaints were coded in the Other category.

3Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints 

(6,065) from military consumers reporting an officer rank received 

between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Ten percent of these 

complaints were coded in the Other category.
Identity Theft Types \ Theft Subtypes Complaints Percentages1

Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 51.7%

Tax- or Wage-Related Fraud 15,057 45.7%

Government Benefits Applied For \ Received 1,332 4.0%

Other Government Documents Issued \ Forged 560 1.7%

Driver's License Issued \ Forged 113 0.3%

Credit Card Fraud 15.9%

New Accounts 3,673 11.2%

Existing Accounts 1,535 4.7%

Phone or Utilities Fraud 9.8%

Utilities - New Accounts 1,807 5.5%

Wireless - New Accounts 1,012 3.1%

Unauthorized Charges to Existing Accounts 225 0.7%

Telephone - New Accounts 157 0.5%

Bank Fraud 8.1%

Electronic Fund Transfer 1,199 3.6%

New Accounts 736 2.2%

Existing Accounts 437 1.3%

Other Deposit Accounts 320 1.0%

Loan Fraud 3.3%

Business \ Personal \ Student Loan 648 2.0%

Auto Loan \ Lease 229 0.7%

Real Estate Loan 190 0.6%

Employment-Related Fraud 2.0%

Employment-Related Fraud 671 2.0%

Other Identity Theft 16.5%

Uncertain 2,008 6.1%

Data Breach 1,235 3.8%

Miscellaneous 586 1.8%

Internet \ Email 519 1.6%

Medical 264 0.8%

Evading the Law 191 0.6%

Apartment or House Rented 167 0.5%

Insurance 143 0.4%

Prepaid Debit Cards 135 0.4%

Property Rental Fraud 41 0.1%

Securities \ Other Investments 35 0.1%

Magazines 22 0.1%

Bankruptcy 21 0.1%

Child Support 17 0.1%

Attempted Identity Theft 5.8%

Attempted Identity Theft 1,893 5.8%

Consumer Sentinel Network

Military Identity Theft Complaints 

How Victims’ Information is Misused

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) Military identity theft complaints (32,916) received 

between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Note that 11% of CSN Military identity theft complaints included more than one type of 

identity theft.

Federal Trade Commission Page 20 of 102 Released February 2016
Consumer Sentinel Network

Detailed State Complaint Information 

(One Page per State and the District of Columbia)

Fraud & Other Complaints

Identity Theft Complaints

Top Fraud & Other Complaint Categories

Identity Theft Types Reported by Victims

Federal Trade Commission Page 21 of 102 Released February 2016
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Alabama Consumers = 35,865

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Alabama consumers (35,865).

ALABAMA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 40,838

Identity Theft Types Reported by Alabama Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Alabama Victims = 4,973

1Percentages are based on the 4,973 victims reporting from Alabama. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Alabama Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 22 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 13,539 38%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 4,408 12%

3 Impostor Scams 4,135 12%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 3,477 10%

5 Banks and Lenders 1,531 4%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,094 3%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 990 3%

8 Television and Electronic Media 743 2%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

566 2%

10 Internet Services 404 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 2,393 48%

2 Credit Card Fraud 666 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 541 11%

4 Bank Fraud 319 6%

5 Loan Fraud 283 6%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 131 3%

Other 864 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 183 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Alaska Consumers = 2,917

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Alaska consumers (2,917).

ALASKA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 3,613

Identity Theft Types Reported by Alaska Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Alaska Victims = 696

1Percentages are based on the 696 victims reporting from Alaska. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Alaska Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 23 of 102 Released February 2016

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Alaska Office of Attorney General.

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 707 24%

2 Impostor Scams 627 21%

3 Debt Collection 184 6%

4 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 144 5%

5 Telephone and Mobile Services 140 5%

6 Banks and Lenders 126 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 120 4%

8 Internet Services 85 3%

9 Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams 76 3%

10 Health Care 65 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 402 58%

2 Credit Card Fraud 84 12%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 43 6%

4 Bank Fraud 33 5%

5 Loan Fraud 15 2%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 11 2%

Other 135 19%

Attempted Identity Theft 30 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Arizona Consumers = 42,575

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Arizona consumers (42,575).

ARIZONA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 51,711

Identity Theft Types Reported by Arizona Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Arizona Victims = 9,136

1Percentages are based on the 9,136 victims reporting from Arizona. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Arizona Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 24 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 10,211 24%

2 Impostor Scams 7,805 18%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 4,372 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 2,918 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,388 6%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,975 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,501 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 1,117 3%

9 Credit Cards 884 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

812 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 4,043 44%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,272 14%

3 Employment-Related Fraud 799 9%

4 Phone or Utilities Fraud 693 8%

5 Bank Fraud 515 6%

6 Loan Fraud 279 3%

Other 1,944 21%

Attempted Identity Theft 290 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Arkansas Consumers = 14,248

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Arkansas consumers (14,248).

ARKANSAS 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 17,159

Identity Theft Types Reported by Arkansas Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Arkansas Victims = 2,911

1Percentages are based on the 2,911 victims reporting from Arkansas. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Arkansas Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 25 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 3,158 22%

2 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,500 18%

3 Impostor Scams 2,131 15%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,435 10%

5 Banks and Lenders 591 4%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 578 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 566 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 336 2%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

243 2%

10 Internet Services 196 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,568 54%

2 Credit Card Fraud 381 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 263 9%

4 Bank Fraud 180 6%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 96 3%

6 Loan Fraud 83 3%

Other 460 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 90 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from California Consumers = 293,662

CALIFORNIA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 348,967

Identity Theft Types Reported by California Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from California Victims = 55,305

1Percentages are based on the 55,305 victims reporting from California. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by California Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 26 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from California consumers (293,662).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the California Office of Attorney General.

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 120,166 41%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 40,090 14%

3 Impostor Scams 33,768 11%

4 Banks and Lenders 17,614 6%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 8,975 3%

6 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 8,830 3%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 7,653 3%

8 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

5,182 2%

9 Credit Cards 4,567 2%

10 Internet Services 4,460 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 17,044 31%

2 Credit Card Fraud 12,892 23%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 6,870 12%

4 Bank Fraud 4,230 8%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 3,349 6%

6 Loan Fraud 2,595 5%

Other 11,953 22%

Attempted Identity Theft 2,749 5%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Colorado Consumers = 32,333

COLORADO 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 39,057

Identity Theft Types Reported by Colorado Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Colorado Victims = 6,724

1Percentages are based on the 6,724 victims reporting from Colorado. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Colorado Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 27 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Colorado consumers (32,333).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Colorado Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 7,031 22%

2 Impostor Scams 6,283 19%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 3,075 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 2,234 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,832 6%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,616 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,315 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 948 3%

9 Internet Services 770 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

692 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 3,336 50%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,025 15%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 437 6%

4 Employment-Related Fraud 405 6%

5 Bank Fraud 376 6%

6 Loan Fraud 154 2%

Other 1,252 19%

Attempted Identity Theft 227 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Connecticut Consumers = 19,898

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Connecticut consumers (19,898).

CONNECTICUT 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 27,976

Identity Theft Types Reported by Connecticut Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Connecticut Victims = 8,078

1Percentages are based on the 8,078 victims reporting from Connecticut. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Connecticut Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 28 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 5,142 26%

2 Impostor Scams 3,263 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,890 9%

4 Banks and Lenders 1,317 7%

5 Auto-Related Complaints 1,118 6%

6 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 921 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 856 4%

8 Credit Cards 485 2%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

393 2%

10 Television and Electronic Media 375 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 5,199 64%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,011 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 717 9%

4 Bank Fraud 291 4%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 138 2%

6 Loan Fraud 99 1%

Other 1,123 14%

Attempted Identity Theft 208 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Delaware Consumers = 7,641

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Delaware consumers (7,641).

DELAWARE 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 8,822

Identity Theft Types Reported by Delaware Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Delaware Victims = 1,181

1Percentages are based on the 1,181 victims reporting from Delaware. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Delaware Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 29 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 2,279 30%

2 Impostor Scams 1,305 17%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 729 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 549 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 410 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 271 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 236 3%

8 Television and Electronic Media 189 2%

9 Credit Cards 187 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

174 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 644 55%

2 Credit Card Fraud 174 15%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 117 10%

4 Bank Fraud 66 6%

5 Loan Fraud 45 4%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 29 2%

Other 176 15%

Attempted Identity Theft 40 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from District of Columbia Consumers = 8,928

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from District of Columbia consumers (8,928).

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 10,461

Identity Theft Types Reported by District of Columbia Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from District of Columbia Victims = 1,533

1Percentages are based on the 1,533 victims reporting from District of Columbia. Note that CSN identity 

theft complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by District of Columbia Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 30 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 707 46%

2 Credit Card Fraud 189 12%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 156 10%

4 Bank Fraud 117 8%

5 Loan Fraud 52 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 40 3%

Other 352 23%

Attempted Identity Theft 52 3%

Complaints

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 3,370 38%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,179 13%

3 Impostor Scams 948 11%

4 Banks and Lenders 693 8%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 273 3%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 264 3%

7 Credit Cards 223 2%

7 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 223 2%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

178 2%

10 Internet Services 142 2%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Florida Consumers = 306,133

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Florida consumers (306,133).

FLORIDA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 350,196

Identity Theft Types Reported by Florida Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Florida Victims = 44,063

1Percentages are based on the 44,063 victims reporting from Florida. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Florida Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 31 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 180,943 59%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 35,708 12%

3 Impostor Scams 21,042 7%

4 Banks and Lenders 11,689 4%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 7,255 2%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 6,451 2%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 5,163 2%

8 Television and Electronic Media 4,113 1%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

3,765 1%

10 Credit Cards 2,871 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 21,825 50%

2 Credit Card Fraud 7,999 18%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 3,739 8%

4 Bank Fraud 3,415 8%

5 Loan Fraud 1,127 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 860 2%

Other 6,886 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 2,315 5%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Georgia Consumers = 123,429

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Georgia consumers (123,429).

GEORGIA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 138,659

Identity Theft Types Reported by Georgia Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Georgia Victims = 15,230

1Percentages are based on the 15,230 victims reporting from Georgia. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Georgia Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 32 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 65,585 53%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 15,483 13%

3 Impostor Scams 8,000 6%

4 Banks and Lenders 5,473 4%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 4,608 4%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 3,785 3%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,460 2%

8 Television and Electronic Media 2,420 2%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

2,080 2%

10 Credit Cards 1,350 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 6,494 43%

2 Credit Card Fraud 2,519 17%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 2,021 13%

4 Bank Fraud 1,017 7%

5 Loan Fraud 703 5%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 305 2%

Other 3,356 22%

Attempted Identity Theft 539 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Hawaii Consumers = 5,315

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Hawaii consumers (5,315).

HAWAII 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 6,211

Identity Theft Types Reported by Hawaii Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Hawaii Victims = 896

1Percentages are based on the 896 victims reporting from Hawaii. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Hawaii Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 33 of 102 Released February 2016

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection.

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 860 16%

2 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 824 16%

3 Banks and Lenders 455 9%

4 Debt Collection 447 8%

5 Telephone and Mobile Services 384 7%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 320 6%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 302 6%

8 Internet Services 161 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

127 2%

10 Credit Cards 126 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 369 41%

2 Credit Card Fraud 203 23%

3 Bank Fraud 75 8%

4 Phone or Utilities Fraud 60 7%

5 Loan Fraud 29 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 13 1%

Other 188 21%

Attempted Identity Theft 35 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Idaho Consumers = 7,002

IDAHO 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 8,678

Identity Theft Types Reported by Idaho Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Idaho Victims = 1,676

1Percentages are based on the 1,676 victims reporting from Idaho. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Idaho Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 34 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Idaho consumers (7,002).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Idaho Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 1,519 22%

2 Debt Collection 937 13%

3 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 653 9%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 554 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 445 6%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 364 5%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 322 5%

8 Internet Services 201 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

193 3%

10 Television and Electronic Media 188 3%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,021 61%

2 Credit Card Fraud 174 10%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 97 6%

4 Loan Fraud 78 5%

5 Bank Fraud 67 4%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 40 2%

Other 244 15%

Attempted Identity Theft 46 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Illinois Consumers = 66,510

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Illinois consumers (66,510).

ILLINOIS 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 86,924

Identity Theft Types Reported by Illinois Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Illinois Victims = 20,414

1Percentages are based on the 20,414 victims reporting from Illinois. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Illinois Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 35 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 16,882 25%

2 Impostor Scams 9,844 15%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 6,428 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 4,908 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 3,434 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 3,416 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,560 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 2,303 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

1,574 2%

10 Credit Cards 1,484 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 10,129 50%

2 Credit Card Fraud 2,879 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 2,805 14%

4 Bank Fraud 1,003 5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 604 3%

6 Loan Fraud 571 3%

Other 3,495 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 725 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Indiana Consumers = 33,836

INDIANA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 40,053

Identity Theft Types Reported by Indiana Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Indiana Victims = 6,217

1Percentages are based on the 6,217 victims reporting from Indiana. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Indiana Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 36 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Indiana consumers (33,836).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Indiana Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 8,285 24%

2 Impostor Scams 5,964 18%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 3,677 11%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 3,140 9%

5 Banks and Lenders 1,670 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,386 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,273 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 1,002 3%

9 Internet Services 681 2%

10 Health Care 553 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 3,048 49%

2 Credit Card Fraud 807 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 804 13%

4 Bank Fraud 309 5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 179 3%

6 Loan Fraud 169 3%

Other 1,228 20%

Attempted Identity Theft 203 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Iowa Consumers = 10,909

IOWA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 13,712

Identity Theft Types Reported by Iowa Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Iowa Victims = 2,803

1Percentages are based on the 2,803 victims reporting from Iowa. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Iowa Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 37 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Iowa consumers (10,909).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Iowa Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 2,342 21%

2 Debt Collection 1,691 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,173 11%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 848 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 583 5%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 499 5%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 460 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 328 3%

9 Internet Services 250 2%

10 Health Care 213 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,801 64%

2 Credit Card Fraud 335 12%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 166 6%

4 Bank Fraud 127 5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 51 2%

6 Loan Fraud 45 2%

Other 352 13%

Attempted Identity Theft 82 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Kansas Consumers = 12,430

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Kansas consumers (12,430).

KANSAS 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 15,712

Identity Theft Types Reported by Kansas Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Kansas Victims = 3,282

1Percentages are based on the 3,282 victims reporting from Kansas. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Kansas Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 38 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 2,603 21%

2 Debt Collection 2,325 19%

3 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,163 9%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,038 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 667 5%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 556 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 512 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 281 2%

9 Internet Services 243 2%

10 Credit Cards 213 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,645 50%

2 Credit Card Fraud 487 15%

3 Bank Fraud 230 7%

4 Phone or Utilities Fraud 218 7%

5 Loan Fraud 134 4%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 68 2%

Other 598 18%

Attempted Identity Theft 141 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Kentucky Consumers = 20,674

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Kentucky consumers (20,674).

KENTUCKY 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 24,255

Identity Theft Types Reported by Kentucky Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Kentucky Victims = 3,581

1Percentages are based on the 3,581 victims reporting from Kentucky. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Kentucky Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 39 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 4,892 24%

2 Impostor Scams 3,578 17%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,913 9%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,866 9%

5 Banks and Lenders 1,112 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,061 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 877 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 554 3%

9 Internet Services 428 2%

10 Health Care 377 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,807 50%

2 Credit Card Fraud 496 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 298 8%

4 Bank Fraud 208 6%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 102 3%

6 Loan Fraud 92 3%

Other 740 21%

Attempted Identity Theft 119 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Louisiana Consumers = 30,999

LOUISIANA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 35,409

Identity Theft Types Reported by Louisiana Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Louisiana Victims = 4,410

1Percentages are based on the 4,410 victims reporting from Louisiana. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Louisiana Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 40 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Louisiana consumers (30,999).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Louisiana Office of Attorney General.

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 11,576 37%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 3,832 12%

3 Impostor Scams 3,300 11%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,581 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 1,391 4%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,130 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 961 3%

8 Television and Electronic Media 584 2%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

563 2%

10 Investment-Related Complaints 457 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 2,247 51%

2 Credit Card Fraud 572 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 374 8%

4 Bank Fraud 265 6%

5 Loan Fraud 236 5%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 90 2%

Other 836 19%

Attempted Identity Theft 155 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Maine Consumers = 5,943

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Maine consumers (5,943).

MAINE 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 7,457

Identity Theft Types Reported by Maine Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Maine Victims = 1,514

1Percentages are based on the 1,514 victims reporting from Maine. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Maine Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 41 of 102 Released February 2016

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Maine Office of Attorney General.

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 1,311 22%

2 Debt Collection 1,016 17%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 583 10%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 459 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 407 7%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 262 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 253 4%

8 Credit Cards 178 3%

9 Internet Services 143 2%

10 Television and Electronic Media 135 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 938 62%

2 Credit Card Fraud 198 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 76 5%

4 Bank Fraud 72 5%

5 Loan Fraud 22 1%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 11 1%

Other 247 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 43 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Maryland Consumers = 44,985

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Maryland consumers (44,985).

MARYLAND 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 55,991

Identity Theft Types Reported by Maryland Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Maryland Victims = 11,006

1Percentages are based on the 11,006 victims reporting from Maryland. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Maryland Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 42 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 11,314 25%

2 Impostor Scams 7,392 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 4,330 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 3,957 9%

5 Auto-Related Complaints 2,091 5%

6 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,875 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,689 4%

8 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

1,234 3%

9 Credit Cards 1,060 2%

10 Television and Electronic Media 1,021 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 6,239 57%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,523 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 899 8%

4 Bank Fraud 597 5%

5 Loan Fraud 283 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 193 2%

Other 1,768 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 319 3%

Complaints
1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Massachusetts consumers (37,884).

MASSACHUSETTS 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 46,414

Identity Theft Types Reported by Massachusetts Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Massachusetts Victims = 8,530

1Percentages are based on the 8,530 victims reporting from Massachusetts. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Massachusetts Consumers

Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Massachusetts Consumers = 37,884

Federal Trade Commission Page 43 of 102 Released February 2016

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General.

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 9,795 26%

2 Impostor Scams 6,145 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 4,979 13%

4 Banks and Lenders 2,452 6%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,659 4%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,560 4%

7 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,527 4%

8 Credit Cards 786 2%

9 Internet Services 746 2%

10 Health Care 665 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 4,934 58%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,151 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 642 8%

4 Bank Fraud 424 5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 213 2%

6 Loan Fraud 166 2%

Other 1,306 15%

Attempted Identity Theft 320 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Michigan Consumers = 113,474

MICHIGAN 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 129,158

Identity Theft Types Reported by Michigan Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Michigan Victims = 15,684

1Percentages are based on the 15,684 victims reporting from Michigan. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Michigan Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 44 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Michigan consumers (113,474).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Michigan Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 65,130 57%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 15,769 14%

3 Impostor Scams 9,209 8%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 3,464 3%

5 Banks and Lenders 3,170 3%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,127 2%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 1,665 1%

8 Television and Electronic Media 1,524 1%

9 Credit Cards 962 1%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

891 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 8,087 52%

2 Phone or Utilities Fraud 2,761 18%

3 Credit Card Fraud 1,944 12%

4 Bank Fraud 682 4%

5 Loan Fraud 375 2%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 321 2%

Other 2,151 14%

Attempted Identity Theft 574 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Minnesota Consumers = 24,055

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Minnesota consumers (24,055).

MINNESOTA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 29,423

Identity Theft Types Reported by Minnesota Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Minnesota Victims = 5,368

1Percentages are based on the 5,368 victims reporting from Minnesota. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Minnesota Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 45 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 5,484 23%

2 Debt Collection 3,406 14%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 2,150 9%

4 Banks and Lenders 1,665 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,522 6%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,189 5%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 969 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 783 3%

9 Internet Services 588 2%

10 Credit Cards 560 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 2,734 51%

2 Credit Card Fraud 905 17%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 420 8%

4 Bank Fraud 335 6%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 137 3%

6 Loan Fraud 115 2%

Other 897 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 241 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Mississippi Consumers = 15,450

MISSISSIPPI 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 18,405

Identity Theft Types Reported by Mississippi Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Mississippi Victims = 2,955

1Percentages are based on the 2,955 victims reporting from Mississippi. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Mississippi Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 46 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Mississippi consumers (15,450).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Mississippi Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 3,929 25%

2 Impostor Scams 2,272 15%

3 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,710 11%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,654 11%

5 Banks and Lenders 788 5%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 699 5%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 588 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 431 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

265 2%

10 Investment-Related Complaints 234 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,491 50%

2 Phone or Utilities Fraud 390 13%

3 Credit Card Fraud 341 12%

4 Bank Fraud 163 6%

5 Loan Fraud 131 4%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 65 2%

Other 480 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 91 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Missouri Consumers = 37,068

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Missouri consumers (37,068).

MISSOURI 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 59,232

Identity Theft Types Reported by Missouri Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Missouri Victims = 22,164

1Percentages are based on the 22,164 victims reporting from Missouri. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Missouri Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 47 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 10,935 29%

2 Impostor Scams 5,336 14%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 3,375 9%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,508 7%

5 Auto-Related Complaints 2,333 6%

6 Banks and Lenders 2,148 6%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,332 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 1,103 3%

9 Health Care 765 2%

10 Credit Cards 621 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 17,927 81%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,060 5%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 586 3%

4 Bank Fraud 508 2%

5 Loan Fraud 358 2%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 198 1%

Other 2,235 10%

Attempted Identity Theft 358 2%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Montana Consumers = 4,572

MONTANA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 5,473

Identity Theft Types Reported by Montana Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Montana Victims = 901

1Percentages are based on the 901 victims reporting from Montana. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Montana Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 48 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Montana consumers (4,572).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Montana Department of Justice. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 1,157 25%

2 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 653 14%

3 Debt Collection 621 14%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 385 8%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 222 5%

6 Banks and Lenders 178 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 126 3%

8 Television and Electronic Media 122 3%

9 Internet Services 99 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

77 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 544 60%

2 Credit Card Fraud 122 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 48 5%

4 Bank Fraud 42 5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 16 2%

6 Loan Fraud 15 2%

Other 133 15%

Attempted Identity Theft 37 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Nebraska Consumers = 7,648

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Nebraska consumers (7,648).

NEBRASKA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 9,553

Identity Theft Types Reported by Nebraska Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Nebraska Victims = 1,905

1Percentages are based on the 1,905 victims reporting from Nebraska. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Nebraska Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 49 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 1,645 22%

2 Debt Collection 1,258 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 703 9%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 591 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 416 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 371 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 361 5%

8 Internet Services 214 3%

9 Television and Electronic Media 201 3%

10 Health Care 165 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,060 56%

2 Credit Card Fraud 245 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 129 7%

4 Bank Fraud 113 6%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 71 4%

6 Loan Fraud 34 2%

Other 306 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 81 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Nevada Consumers = 24,194

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Nevada consumers (24,194).

NEVADA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 27,807

Identity Theft Types Reported by Nevada Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Nevada Victims = 3,613

1Percentages are based on the 3,613 victims reporting from Nevada. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Nevada Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 50 of 102 Released February 2016

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Nevada Office of Attorney General.

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 8,119 34%

2 Impostor Scams 3,434 14%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 2,760 11%

4 Banks and Lenders 1,521 6%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,076 4%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 934 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 794 3%

8 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

626 3%

9 Credit Cards 424 2%

10 Health Care 372 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,182 33%

2 Credit Card Fraud 819 23%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 339 9%

4 Bank Fraud 298 8%

5 Loan Fraud 181 5%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 160 4%

Other 876 24%

Attempted Identity Theft 169 5%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from New Hampshire Consumers = 7,611

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from New Hampshire consumers (7,611).

NEW HAMPSHIRE 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 9,501

Identity Theft Types Reported by New Hampshire Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from New Hampshire Victims = 1,890

1Percentages are based on the 1,890 victims reporting from New Hampshire. Note that CSN identity 

theft complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by New Hampshire Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 51 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 1,749 23%

2 Impostor Scams 1,391 18%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 809 11%

4 Banks and Lenders 530 7%

5 Auto-Related Complaints 444 6%

6 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 442 6%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 308 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 203 3%

9 Credit Cards 166 2%

10 Internet Services 150 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,266 67%

2 Credit Card Fraud 215 11%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 113 6%

4 Bank Fraud 81 4%

5 Loan Fraud 25 1%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 13 1%

Other 285 15%

Attempted Identity Theft 34 2%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from New Jersey Consumers = 56,121

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from New Jersey consumers (56,121).

NEW JERSEY 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 67,387

Identity Theft Types Reported by New Jersey Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from New Jersey Victims = 11,266

1Percentages are based on the 11,266 victims reporting from New Jersey. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by New Jersey Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 52 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 15,928 28%

2 Impostor Scams 8,005 14%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 5,649 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 4,986 9%

5 Auto-Related Complaints 2,537 5%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,363 4%

7 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,125 4%

8 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

1,403 2%

9 Credit Cards 1,371 2%

10 Television and Electronic Media 1,072 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 4,956 44%

2 Credit Card Fraud 2,121 19%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 1,325 12%

4 Bank Fraud 658 6%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 408 4%

6 Loan Fraud 309 3%

Other 2,180 19%

Attempted Identity Theft 462 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from New Mexico Consumers = 12,387

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from New Mexico consumers (12,387).

NEW MEXICO 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 14,496

Identity Theft Types Reported by New Mexico Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from New Mexico Victims = 2,109

1Percentages are based on the 2,109 victims reporting from New Mexico. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by New Mexico Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 53 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 3,624 29%

2 Impostor Scams 1,960 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,297 10%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,105 9%

5 Banks and Lenders 591 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 464 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 416 3%

8 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

340 3%

9 Television and Electronic Media 240 2%

10 Health Care 193 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 795 38%

2 Credit Card Fraud 329 16%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 207 10%

4 Bank Fraud 162 8%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 140 7%

6 Loan Fraud 107 5%

Other 488 23%

Attempted Identity Theft 87 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from New York Consumers = 103,918

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from New York consumers (103,918).

NEW YORK 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 128,075

Identity Theft Types Reported by New York Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from New York Victims = 24,157

1Percentages are based on the 24,157 victims reporting from New York. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by New York Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 54 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 25,456 24%

2 Impostor Scams 15,162 15%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 12,885 12%

4 Banks and Lenders 7,859 8%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 4,688 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 4,510 4%

7 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 4,471 4%

8 Credit Cards 3,005 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

2,648 3%

10 Health Care 2,099 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 9,753 40%

2 Credit Card Fraud 5,063 21%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 2,501 10%

4 Bank Fraud 1,810 7%

5 Loan Fraud 749 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 658 3%

Other 5,031 21%

Attempted Identity Theft 1,175 5%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from North Carolina Consumers = 55,266

NORTH CAROLINA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 65,912

Identity Theft Types Reported by North Carolina Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from North Carolina Victims = 10,646

1Percentages are based on the 10,646 victims reporting from North Carolina. Note that CSN identity 

theft complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by North Carolina Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 55 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from North Carolina consumers (55,266).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the North Carolina Department of Justice. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 12,037 22%

2 Impostor Scams 9,363 17%

3 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 4,612 8%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 4,528 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 3,819 7%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 2,904 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,325 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 1,843 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

1,311 2%

10 Credit Cards 1,212 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 5,656 53%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,483 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 1,043 10%

4 Bank Fraud 661 6%

5 Loan Fraud 321 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 243 2%

Other 1,761 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 321 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from North Dakota Consumers = 2,110

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from North Dakota consumers (2,110).

NORTH DAKOTA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 2,685

Identity Theft Types Reported by North Dakota Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from North Dakota Victims = 575

1Percentages are based on the 575 victims reporting from North Dakota. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by North Dakota Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 56 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 429 20%

2 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 269 13%

3 Debt Collection 266 13%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 197 9%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 143 7%

6 Banks and Lenders 111 5%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 76 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 60 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

54 3%

10 Internet Services 38 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 324 56%

2 Credit Card Fraud 84 15%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 43 7%

4 Loan Fraud 28 5%

5 Bank Fraud 25 4%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 6 1%

Other 98 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 12 2%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Ohio Consumers = 70,470

OHIO 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 86,081

Identity Theft Types Reported by Ohio Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Ohio Victims = 15,611

1Percentages are based on the 15,611 victims reporting from Ohio. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Ohio Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 57 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Ohio consumers (70,470).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Ohio Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 23,091 33%

2 Impostor Scams 9,746 14%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 7,147 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 4,294 6%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 3,864 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 3,532 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,382 3%

8 Television and Electronic Media 2,005 3%

9 Credit Cards 1,292 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

1,246 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 9,334 60%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,982 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 1,433 9%

4 Bank Fraud 692 4%

5 Loan Fraud 469 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 229 1%

Other 2,229 14%

Attempted Identity Theft 497 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Oklahoma Consumers = 19,307

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Oklahoma consumers (19,307).

OKLAHOMA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 24,002

Identity Theft Types Reported by Oklahoma Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Oklahoma Victims = 4,695

1Percentages are based on the 4,695 victims reporting from Oklahoma. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Oklahoma Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 58 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 5,168 27%

2 Impostor Scams 3,029 16%

3 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,201 11%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,930 10%

5 Banks and Lenders 907 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 876 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 651 3%

8 Television and Electronic Media 430 2%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

329 2%

10 Internet Services 287 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 2,804 60%

2 Credit Card Fraud 541 12%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 292 6%

4 Bank Fraud 234 5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 147 3%

6 Loan Fraud 137 3%

Other 737 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 127 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Oregon Consumers = 20,387

OREGON 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 25,468

Identity Theft Types Reported by Oregon Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Oregon Victims = 5,081

1Percentages are based on the 5,081 victims reporting from Oregon. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Oregon Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 59 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Oregon consumers (20,387).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Oregon Department of Justice. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 4,743 23%

2 Debt Collection 3,212 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 2,151 11%

4 Banks and Lenders 1,518 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,383 7%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 903 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 750 4%

8 Internet Services 518 3%

9 Television and Electronic Media 492 2%

10 Credit Cards 432 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 2,910 57%

2 Credit Card Fraud 715 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 313 6%

4 Bank Fraud 280 6%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 115 2%

6 Loan Fraud 82 2%

Other 800 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 191 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Pennsylvania Consumers = 80,180

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Pennsylvania consumers (80,180).

PENNSYLVANIA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 95,057

Identity Theft Types Reported by Pennsylvania Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Pennsylvania Victims = 14,877

1Percentages are based on the 14,877 victims reporting from Pennsylvania. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Pennsylvania Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 60 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 25,480 32%

2 Impostor Scams 12,146 15%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 9,100 11%

4 Banks and Lenders 4,981 6%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 4,222 5%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,869 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 2,749 3%

8 Television and Electronic Media 1,890 2%

9 Credit Cards 1,439 2%

10 Internet Services 1,262 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 7,068 48%

2 Credit Card Fraud 2,505 17%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 2,047 14%

4 Bank Fraud 761 5%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 428 3%

6 Loan Fraud 322 2%

Other 2,431 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 610 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Rhode Island Consumers = 8,078

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Rhode Island consumers (8,078).

RHODE ISLAND 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 9,569

Identity Theft Types Reported by Rhode Island Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Rhode Island Victims = 1,491

1Percentages are based on the 1,491 victims reporting from Rhode Island. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Rhode Island Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 61 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 3,688 46%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,063 13%

3 Impostor Scams 824 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 406 5%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 302 4%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 247 3%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 238 3%

8 Credit Cards 135 2%

9 Internet Services 89 1%

10 Health Care 87 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 893 60%

2 Credit Card Fraud 182 12%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 103 7%

4 Loan Fraud 65 4%

5 Bank Fraud 62 4%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 33 2%

Other 198 13%

Attempted Identity Theft 46 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from South Carolina Consumers = 27,091

SOUTH CAROLINA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 32,101

Identity Theft Types Reported by South Carolina Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from South Carolina Victims = 5,010

1Percentages are based on the 5,010 victims reporting from South Carolina. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by South Carolina Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 62 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from South Carolina consumers (27,091).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 6,441 24%

2 Impostor Scams 4,513 17%

3 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,422 9%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 2,299 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 1,885 7%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,221 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,166 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 742 3%

9 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

699 3%

10 Credit Cards 453 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 2,307 46%

2 Credit Card Fraud 743 15%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 558 11%

4 Bank Fraud 318 6%

5 Loan Fraud 236 5%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 104 2%

Other 969 19%

Attempted Identity Theft 196 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from South Dakota Consumers = 3,056

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from South Dakota consumers (3,056).

SOUTH DAKOTA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 3,598

Identity Theft Types Reported by South Dakota Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from South Dakota Victims = 542

1Percentages are based on the 542 victims reporting from South Dakota. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by South Dakota Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 63 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 533 17%

2 Impostor Scams 503 16%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 391 13%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 306 10%

5 Banks and Lenders 195 6%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 163 5%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 129 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 73 2%

9 Advance Payments for Credit Services 57 2%

10 Internet Services 55 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 307 57%

2 Credit Card Fraud 65 12%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 31 6%

4 Bank Fraud 27 5%

5 Loan Fraud 25 5%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 12 2%

Other 90 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 11 2%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Tennessee Consumers = 44,241

TENNESSEE 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 51,362

Identity Theft Types Reported by Tennessee Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Tennessee Victims = 7,121

1Percentages are based on the 7,121 victims reporting from Tennessee. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Tennessee Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 64 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Tennessee consumers (44,241).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 13,384 30%

2 Impostor Scams 6,375 14%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 4,932 11%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 3,349 8%

5 Banks and Lenders 2,291 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,760 4%

7 Television and Electronic Media 1,561 4%

8 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,532 3%

9 Health Care 668 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

665 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 3,430 48%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,037 15%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 864 12%

4 Bank Fraud 440 6%

5 Loan Fraud 256 4%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 142 2%

Other 1,278 18%

Attempted Identity Theft 258 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Texas Consumers = 258,579

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Texas consumers (258,579).

TEXAS 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 298,209

Identity Theft Types Reported by Texas Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Texas Victims = 39,630

1Percentages are based on the 39,630 victims reporting from Texas. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Texas Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 65 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 141,945 55%

2 Telephone and Mobile Services 27,981 11%

3 Impostor Scams 19,459 8%

4 Banks and Lenders 8,639 3%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 8,039 3%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 7,253 3%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 5,780 2%

8 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

5,174 2%

9 Television and Electronic Media 3,204 1%

10 Credit Cards 2,567 1%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 18,890 48%

2 Credit Card Fraud 5,641 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 3,272 8%

4 Loan Fraud 2,363 6%

5 Bank Fraud 2,264 6%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 2,149 5%

Other 7,195 18%

Attempted Identity Theft 1,352 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Utah Consumers = 11,870

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Utah consumers (11,870).

UTAH 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 14,437

Identity Theft Types Reported by Utah Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Utah Victims = 2,567

1Percentages are based on the 2,567 victims reporting from Utah. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Utah Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 66 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 2,604 22%

2 Debt Collection 2,248 19%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 1,050 9%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 861 7%

5 Banks and Lenders 748 6%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 532 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 448 4%

8 Health Care 293 2%

9 Internet Services 266 2%

10 Television and Electronic Media 258 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 1,216 47%

2 Credit Card Fraud 420 16%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 163 6%

4 Bank Fraud 157 6%

5 Loan Fraud 139 5%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 106 4%

Other 440 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 110 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Vermont Consumers = 2,546

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Vermont consumers (2,546).

VERMONT 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 3,071

Identity Theft Types Reported by Vermont Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Vermont Victims = 525

1Percentages are based on the 525 victims reporting from Vermont. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Vermont Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 67 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 581 23%

2 Debt Collection 253 10%

3 Banks and Lenders 207 8%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 205 8%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 185 7%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 142 6%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 134 5%

8 Credit Cards 101 4%

9 Internet Services 76 3%

10 Television and Electronic Media 69 3%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 301 57%

2 Credit Card Fraud 76 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 39 7%

4 Bank Fraud 30 6%

5 Loan Fraud 9 2%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 6 1%

Other 84 16%

Attempted Identity Theft 15 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Virginia Consumers = 54,093

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Virginia consumers (54,093).

VIRGINIA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 64,422

Identity Theft Types Reported by Virginia Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Virginia Victims = 10,329

1Percentages are based on the 10,329 victims reporting from Virginia. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Virginia Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 68 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 14,176 26%

2 Impostor Scams 9,648 18%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 4,740 9%

4 Banks and Lenders 3,839 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 2,548 5%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 2,221 4%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 2,210 4%

8 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

1,404 3%

9 Credit Cards 1,185 2%

10 Television and Electronic Media 1,167 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 5,465 53%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,408 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 1,029 10%

4 Bank Fraud 619 6%

5 Loan Fraud 261 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 130 1%

Other 1,921 19%

Attempted Identity Theft 281 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Washington Consumers = 36,264

WASHINGTON 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 45,307

Identity Theft Types Reported by Washington Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Washington Victims = 9,043

1Percentages are based on the 9,043 victims reporting from Washington. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Washington Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 69 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Washington consumers (36,264).

Note: These figures exclude complaints provided by the Washington Office of Attorney General. 

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 8,046 22%

2 Debt Collection 6,042 17%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 3,620 10%

4 Banks and Lenders 2,539 7%

5 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,845 5%

6 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,580 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 1,529 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 1,090 3%

9 Internet Services 1,057 3%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

1,000 3%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 4,158 46%

2 Credit Card Fraud 1,665 18%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 623 7%

4 Bank Fraud 607 7%

5 Employment-Related Fraud 350 4%

6 Loan Fraud 186 2%

Other 1,821 20%

Attempted Identity Theft 402 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from West Virginia Consumers = 8,240

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from West Virginia consumers (8,240).

WEST VIRGINIA 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 9,714

Identity Theft Types Reported by West Virginia Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from West Virginia Victims = 1,474

1Percentages are based on the 1,474 victims reporting from West Virginia. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by West Virginia Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 70 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 1,633 20%

2 Debt Collection 1,069 13%

3 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,004 12%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 760 9%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 335 4%

6 Banks and Lenders 327 4%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 324 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 271 3%

9 Internet Services 164 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

161 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 758 51%

2 Credit Card Fraud 196 13%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 191 13%

4 Bank Fraud 57 4%

5 Loan Fraud 30 2%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 28 2%

Other 267 18%

Attempted Identity Theft 60 4%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Wisconsin Consumers = 25,544

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Wisconsin consumers (25,544).

WISCONSIN 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 33,300

Identity Theft Types Reported by Wisconsin Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Wisconsin Victims = 7,756

1Percentages are based on the 7,756 victims reporting from Wisconsin. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Wisconsin Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 71 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Debt Collection 5,344 21%

2 Impostor Scams 4,751 19%

3 Telephone and Mobile Services 2,687 11%

4 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 1,822 7%

5 Banks and Lenders 1,606 6%

6 Auto-Related Complaints 1,205 5%

7 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 1,155 5%

8 Television and Electronic Media 581 2%

9 Credit Cards 542 2%

10 Health Care 504 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 4,910 63%

2 Credit Card Fraud 930 12%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 361 5%

4 Bank Fraud 326 4%

5 Loan Fraud 216 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 152 2%

Other 1,201 15%

Attempted Identity Theft 250 3%

Complaints
Fraud and Other Complaints Count from Wyoming Consumers = 2,435

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN fraud and other complaints from Wyoming consumers (2,435).

WYOMING 

Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Figures 

January 1 - December 31, 2015

Total Number of Identity Theft, Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints = 3,001

Identity Theft Types Reported by Wyoming Victims

Identity Theft Complaints Count from Wyoming Victims = 566

1Percentages are based on the 566 victims reporting from Wyoming. Note that CSN identity theft 

complaints may be coded under multiple theft types. 

Top 10 Fraud and Other Complaint Categories Reported by Wyoming Consumers

Federal Trade Commission Page 72 of 102 Released February 2016

Rank Top Categories Percentage1 

1 Impostor Scams 438 18%

2 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 399 16%

3 Debt Collection 341 14%

4 Telephone and Mobile Services 237 10%

5 Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 140 6%

6 Banks and Lenders 111 5%

7 Auto-Related Complaints 95 4%

8 Television and Electronic Media 67 3%

9 Internet Services 59 2%

10 Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report 

Users

54 2%

Complaints

Rank Identity Theft Type Percentage1

1 Government Documents or Benefits Fraud 321 57%

2 Credit Card Fraud 80 14%

3 Phone or Utilities Fraud 33 6%

4 Bank Fraud 22 4%

5 Loan Fraud 16 3%

6 Employment-Related Fraud 12 2%

Other 94 17%

Attempted Identity Theft 20 4%

Complaints
The Consumer Sentinel Network is a free, online database of consumer complaints available only to law 

enforcement. It includes complaints about identity theft, fraud, financial transactions, debt collection, 

and credit reports, among other subjects. The Consumer Sentinel Network is based on the premise that 

sharing information can make law enforcement even more effective. To that end, the Consumer Sentinel 

Network provides law enforcement members with access to consumer complaints provided directly to 

the FTC, as well as to complaints shared by other data contributors.

Econsumer.gov was created in April 2001 to gather and share cross-border e-commerce complaints, to 

respond to the challenges of multinational Internet fraud, and to improve consumer confidence in ecommerce. Today, consumer protection agencies in 36 countries participate in econsumer.gov. Through 

econsumer.gov, consumers can file cross-border consumer complaints online and learn other steps to take 

to combat fraud. The website is available in English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, 

Spanish, and Turkish. Using the existing Consumer Sentinel Network, the incoming complaints are 

accessible to certified foreign law enforcement agencies.

IdentityTheft.gov makes it easier for victims to report identity theft and to recover from it. When a 

consumer uses IdentityTheft.gov to report a problem, the site asks specific questions about the 

consumer’s situation, and then uses the information to build a personal recovery plan. IdentityTheft.gov 

is integrated with the FTC’s consumer complaint-gathering system. When consumers use 

IdentityTheft.gov to report a problem, the site makes information about the crime available to Consumer 

Sentinel Network law enforcement members. The complaint data becomes part of the Identity Theft 

Data Clearinghouse, the sole national repository of consumer complaints about identity theft.

www.econsumer.gov

Appendix A1: The Consumer Sentinel Network

www.IdentityTheft.gov

www.FTC.gov/Sentinel

Federal Trade Commission Page 73 of 102 Released February 2016
Appendix A2: Consumer Sentinel Network Major Data Contributors1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of Consumer Sentinel Network complaints (3,083,379) received between January 1 and 

December 31, 2015. The type of complaints provided by the organization is indicated in parentheses. 

2For a list of Better Business Bureaus contributing to the Consumer Sentinel Network, see Appendix A4. 

Federal Trade Commission Page 74 of 102 Released February 2016
Appendix A3: Consumer Sentinel Network Data Contributor Details

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; and CY-2015 = 3,083,379.

2FTC - Mobile Complaint Assistant was activated in CY-2014.

3For a list of Better Business Bureaus contributing to the Consumer Sentinel Network, see Appendix A4. 

4MoneyGram International provides the FTC certain types of complaints that Western Union does not, such as complaints from consumers outside the United 

States and information about additional transactions that MoneyGram has linked to a consumer fraud complaint after investigating the transaction and 

contacting the sender. In addition, this chart does not include Western Union complaints from December 2015.

5Identity Theft Assistance Center and Internet Crime Complaint Center stopped contributing complaints in CY-2015. 

Federal Trade Commission Page 75 of 102 Released February 2016

Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1 Complaints Percentages1

FTC - "877 ID THEFT" 199,648 9% 229,826 9% 284,800 9%

FTC - "877 FTC HELP" (Fraud & Other) 220,186 10% 267,733 10% 283,040 9%

FTC - Web Complaints (Fraud & Other) 210,471 10% 210,071 8% 280,468 9%

FTC - Web Complaints IDT 71,731 3% 96,873 4% 188,576 6%

FTC - Mobile Complaints (Fraud & Other)2 - - 38,516 1% 76,678 2%

PrivacyStar 246,498 11% 540,198 21% 964,186 31%

Council of Better Business Bureaus3 437,652 20% 406,346 15% 360,604 12%

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 149,531 7% 218,804 8% 229,611 7%

MoneyGram International \ Western Union4 65,935 3% 70,067 3% 115,325 4%

 MoneyGram International 38,253 2% 41,027 2% 82,427 3%

 Western Union 27,682 1% 29,040 1% 32,898 1%

Publishers Clearing House 56,653 3% 72,733 3% 111,713 4%

State Law Enforcement Agencies 88,012 4% 84,134 3% 85,720 3%

 Ohio Attorney General 18,032 1% 15,290 1% 18,847 1%

 North Carolina Department of Justice 16,360 1% 8,650 <1% 13,978 <1%

 Washington Attorney General 11,789 1% 11,275 <1% 10,825 <1%

 Massachusetts Attorney General 63 <1% 7,628 <1% 8,959 <1%

 Maine Attorney General 4815 <1% 6,755 <1% 7,042 <1%

 California Attorney General 11,239 1% 9,718 <1% 5,767 <1%

 Indiana Attorney General 5,081 <1% 4,670 <1% 4,832 <1%

 Michigan Attorney General 4,166 <1% 4,042 <1% 3,823 <1%

 Oregon Department of Justice 5,557 <1% 4,498 <1% 2,514 <1%

 Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs 3,077 <1% 2,841 <1% 1,914 <1%

 Iowa Attorney General 2,339 <1% 1,832 <1% 1,899 <1%

 South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs 757 <1% 2,446 <1% 1,716 <1%

 Colorado Attorney General 829 <1% 1,237 <1% 1,096 <1%

 Nevada Attorney General 264 <1% 423 <1% 661 <1%

 Idaho Attorney General 855 <1% 660 <1% 448 <1%

 Montana Department of Justice 745 <1% 659 <1% 445 <1%

 Alaska Attorney General 295 <1% 262 <1% 376 <1%

 Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection 86 <1% 641 <1% 297 <1%

 Mississippi Attorney General 515 <1% 482 <1% 240 <1%

 Louisiana Attorney General 1,148 <1% 125 <1% 41 <1%

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service 635 <1% 22,136 1% 64,043 2%

Others 395,457 18% 368,580 14% 38,621 1%

 National Consumers League 6,798 <1% 9,470 <1% 10,506 <1%

 Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre 17,272 1% 11,385 <1% 10,108 <1%

 Green Dot 91,814 4% 106,353 4% 7,647 <1%

 Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights 10,930 1% 5,000 <1% 3,184 <1%

 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - - 1,583 <1% 2,047 <1%

 Canada Competition Bureau 2,477 <1% 1,750 <1% 1,252 <1%

 Scam Detector - - - - 930 <1%

 Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs 726 <1% 931 <1% 810 <1%

 Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force 629 <1% 671 <1% 708 <1%

 Iowa Clinton County Sheriff's Office 40 <1% 154 <1% 348 <1%

 Nevada Department of Business and Industry 82 <1% 402 <1% 307 <1%

 Privacy Rights Clearinghouse 126 <1% 317 <1% 220 <1%

 U.S. Department of Education 59 <1% 217 <1% 144 <1%

 U.S. Department of Defense 16 <1% 333 <1% 142 <1%

 Xerox Corporation - - 12 <1% 116 <1%

 Other Data Contributors 37 <1% 80 <1% 152 <1%

 Identity Theft Assistance Center 5 17,741 1% 4,885 <1% - -

 Internet Crime Complaint Center 5 246,710 11% 225,037 9% - -

Data Contributors

CY - 2013 CY - 2014 CY - 2015
Appendix A4: Consumer Sentinel Network

Better Business Bureau Data Contributors

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 76 of 102 Released February 2016

Alabama, Birmingham Louisiana, Baton Rouge Oklahoma, Oklahoma City

Alabama, Huntsville Louisiana, Lafayette (Acadiana) Oklahoma, Tulsa

Alberta, Calgary (Canada) Louisiana, Lake Charles Ontario, Kitchener (Canada)

Alberta, Edmonton (Canada) Louisiana, Monroe Ontario, London (Canada)

Arizona, Phoenix Louisiana, New Orleans Ontario, Ottawa (Canada)

Arizona, Tucson Louisiana, Shreveport Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh

Arkansas, Little Rock Manitoba, Winnipeg (Canada) Saskatchewan, Regina (Canada)

British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada) Maryland, Baltimore South Carolina, Columbia

British Columbia, Victoria (Canada) Massachusetts, Boston South Carolina, Greenville

California, Fresno Massachusetts, Worchester South Carolina, Myrtle Beach

California, Oakland Michigan, Detroit (Eastern) Tennessee, Chattanooga

California, Sacramento Michigan, Grand Rapids Tennessee, Knoxville

California, San Diego Minnesota, Saint Paul Tennessee, Memphis

California, San Jose (Silicon Valley) Mississippi, Jackson Tennessee, Nashville

California, Santa Barbara (Tri-Counties) Missouri, Kansas City Texas, Abilene

Colorado, Colorado Springs Missouri, Saint Louis Texas, Amarillo

Colorado, Denver Missouri, Springfield Texas, Austin

Colorado, Fort Collins Nebraska, Omaha Texas, Beaumont

Connecticut, Wallingford Nevada, Las Vegas Texas, Brazos Valley (Bryan)

Delaware, Wilmington Nevada, Reno Texas, Dallas

District of Columbia, Washington New Hampshire, Concord Texas, El Paso

Florida, Clearwater New Jersey, Trenton Texas, Fort Worth

Florida, Jacksonville (Northeast Florida) New Mexico, Albuquerque Texas, Houston

Florida, Orlando New York, Buffalo Texas, Lubbock (South Plains)

Florida, Pensacola New York, New York City Texas, San Angelo

Florida, West Palm Beach North Carolina, Asheville Texas, Tyler

Georgia, Atlanta, Athens and Northeast Georgia North Carolina, Charlotte Texas, Wichita Falls

Georgia, Columbus North Carolina, Greensboro Utah, Salt Lake City

Georgia, Macon North Carolina, Raleigh Virginia, Norfolk

Hawaii, Honolulu North Carolina, Winston-Salem Virginia, Richmond

Idaho, Boise Nova Scotia, Halifax (Canada) Virginia, Roanoke

Illinois, Chicago Ohio, Akron Washington, DuPont 

Illinois, Peoria Ohio, Canton Washington, Spokane

Indiana, Evansville Ohio, Cincinnati Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Indiana, Fort Wayne Ohio, Cleveland

Indiana, Indianapolis Ohio, Columbus

Iowa, Des Moines Ohio, Dayton

Kentucky, Lexington Ohio, Toledo

Kentucky, Louisville Ohio, Youngstown
Appendix B1: Consumer Sentinel Network 

Complaint Category Descriptions

Federal Trade Commission Page 77 of 102 Released February 2016

1

Advance Payments for Credit Services: The promise of a loan or credit card that requires you to pay a fee first; worthless 

credit card loss protection and insurance programs; the promise that accurate negative information can be removed from 

your credit file for a fee; services offering to recover government refunds or unclaimed funds; etc. (Fraud Category)

2

Auto-Related Complaints: Misleading or deceptive claims regarding auto prices, financing, leasing or warranties; 

repair\maintenance issues with newly purchased used or new cars, including dissatisfaction with service provided by auto 

mechanics; price fixing and price gouging concerns against gas stations and oil companies; etc. (Other Category) 

3

Banks and Lenders: Deceptive or predatory mortgage lending practices; problems with modification of mortgage terms; 

miscellaneous customer service and account issues with bank or credit union products, including payday loans, student 

loans, auto title loans, fees and overdraft charges; other finance company lending products, services and practices; etc. 

(Other Category)

4

Business and Job Opportunities: Complaints about franchise or business opportunities: promotion of distributing goods 

and services, provided by the promoter, with assistance in the form of locations, accounts or customers. Also, complaints 

about work-at-home plans: an offer a consumer may receive or seek out to work directly from home (e.g. stuffing envelopes 

or processing medical claims), as well as complaints about multi-level marketing schemes, employment agencies or job 

counseling, overseas work, inventions or idea promotions. (Fraud Category)

5

Buyers' Clubs: Complaints involving free trials or discounts on products and services; a buyers’ club membership becomes 

a fraud when consumers are billed for "memberships" they did not agree to purchase. Frequently, consumers are offered a 

free trial offer and are automatically enrolled and charged fees once the free trial period is over. (Fraud Category)

6

Charitable Solicitations: Misleading pitches for donations to benefit local service organizations; solicitations for bogus 

charity or relief organizations; etc. (Fraud Category)

7 Computer Equipment and Software: Problems with computer software, hardware and computer equipment purchases; 

unwanted or unauthorized software installations and downloads; etc. (Other Category)

8

Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users: Credit Reporting Agency (CRA) or furnisher provides 

inaccurate information or fails to reinvestigate disputed information; CRA provides inadequate phone help; difficulties 

ordering free annual credit reports; impermissible access to\inquiry on credit reports; etc. (Other Category) 

9

Credit Cards: Account or billing issues, including interest rate changes, late fees, credit disputes and overcharges; 

fraudulent credit card offers\phishing attempts; etc. (Other Category) 

10

Debt Collection: Debt collector calls repeatedly or continuously, falsely represents the amount or status of debt, fails to 

send written notice of debt, falsely threatens suit, uses profane language, fails to identify self as debt collector and\or 

violates other provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. (Other Category)

11

Education: Complaints about trade or vocational school services, including issues related to accreditation, billing and 

collection, or institutional advertising claims related to usefulness of the degree or job prospects after graduation. Also, 

complaints about traditional colleges and universities. (Other Category)

12

Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams: Letters or e-mails offering the "opportunity" to share in a percentage 

of millions of dollars that a self-proclaimed government official is trying to transfer illegally out of a foreign country in return 

for money, bank account numbers or other identifying information from the victim; fraudulent schemes involving foreign 

lotteries, mystery shoppers or Internet purchases\classified ads in which a counterfeit check overpayment is received along 

with a request to wire back the difference immediately after check deposit, leaving the victim responsible for the funds 

withdrawn; etc. (Fraud Category)

13 Funeral Services: Complaints about the quality, services, price, or price disclosures of funeral service providers. (Other 

Category)

14

Grants: Deceptive practices by businesses or individuals marketing either government grant opportunities or financial aid 

assistance services; problems with student loan processors, debt collectors collecting on defaulted student loans, diploma 

mills and other unaccredited educational institutions; etc. (Fraud Category) 

15

Health Care: Fraudulent, misleading or deceptive claims for vision correction procedures; dietary supplements; weight loss 

products or services; impotency treatments; health spas and equipments; infertility services; sunscreens; HIV test kits; 

medical discount plans; as well as complaints about over-the-counter or prescription drugs; other medical products, supplies 

or treatments; etc. (Fraud Category)
Federal Trade Commission Page 78 of 102 Released February 2016

Appendix B1: Consumer Sentinel Network 

Complaint Category Descriptions

16

Home Repair, Improvement and Products: Defective furniture or appliances; service or warranty-related issues; furniture or 

appliance delivery problems, including receiving wrong or incomplete products; problems with home repair services and 

contractors; issues with home protection devices or services; as well as complaints about general housing-related issues; 

etc. (Other Category) 

17 Identity Theft: When someone appropriates your personal identifying information (like your Social Security number or credit 

card account number) to commit fraud or theft. (Identity Theft Category)

18

Impostor Scams: Complaints about scammers claiming to be friends, family, a romantic interest, a computer technician, 

companies or government agencies to induce people to send money or divulge personal information. Complaints include the 

following: scammers posing as friends or relatives stranded in foreign countries without money; scammers claiming to be 

working for or affiliated with a government agency; scammers claiming to be a computer technician offering unnecessary 

software services; and scammers claiming to be affiliated with a private entity (e.g. a charity or company). (Fraud Category)

19

Internet Auction: Non-delivery or late delivery of goods; delivery of goods that are less valuable than advertised; failure to 

disclose all the relevant information about the product or terms of the sale; etc. (Fraud Category)

20

Internet Services: Problems with trial offers from Internet Service Providers ("ISPs"); difficulty canceling an ISP account; 

issues with Internet entertainment services, Internet gaming and social networking services; undisclosed charges; website 

design and hosting services; spyware, adware and malware issues; as well as general complaints about information or 

functionality related to websites; etc. (Fraud Category)

21 Investment-Related Complaints: Investment opportunities in day trading; gold and gems; art; rare coins; other investment 

products; as well as complaints about companies that offer advice or seminars on investments; etc. (Fraud Category)

22 Magazines and Books: Pitches for "free," "pre-paid," or "special" magazine or book subscription deals; etc. (Fraud 

Category)

23

Mortgage Foreclosure Relief and Debt Management: Complaints about mortgage lenders, brokers and other entities making 

false promises to save consumers’ homes from foreclosure; mortgage refinancing, mortgage term modifications and debt 

management issues; credit organizations charging excessive fees, making false promises to provide free services, pay 

creditors or reduce interest rates. (Fraud Category)

24

Office Supplies and Services: Fraudulent or deceptive offers for toner, copier paper, maintenance supplies, equipment 

maintenance contracts; classified advertising and yellow page invoice scams; website cramming schemes; etc. (Fraud 

Category)

25 Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries: Promotions for "free" prizes for a fee; foreign lotteries and sweepstakes offered through 

the phone, fax, e-mail or mail; etc. (Fraud Category)

26

Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales: Problems, such as undisclosed costs, failure to deliver on time, non-delivery and refusal 

to honor a guarantee, with purchases made via the Internet (not including auction sales), telephone or mail. (Fraud 

Category)

27

Tax Preparers: Complaints about companies that engage in "skimming" consumer tax refunds or charging inflated fees while 

promising substantial refunds. Also, companies aiding consumers in willfully and intentionally falsifying information on a 

tax return to limit the amount of tax liability. Complaints include entities pretending to be tax preparers or the IRS in order to 

obtain funds or information from consumers. (Fraud Category) 

28

Telephone and Mobile Services: Complaints about advertising related to mobile plans, rates or coverage areas; unsolicited 

mobile text messages; problems with mobile applications or downloads; other mobile device problems; charges for calls to 

"toll-free" numbers; unauthorized charges, such as charges for calls consumers did not make; unauthorized switching of 

consumers’ phone service provider; misleading pre-paid phone card offers; as well as complaints about VoIP services; 

unsolicited faxes; etc. (Fraud Category)

29

Television and Electronic Media: Problems with TV reception, installation, billing and promotions for cable/satellite 

providers; miscellaneous problems with music\DVD\video game purchases; as well as complaints about television 

programming or advertisements. (Other Category) 

30 Travel, Vacations and Timeshare Plans: Deceptive offers for "free" or low-cost vacations; cut-rate student travel packages; 

misleading timeshare offers; etc. (Fraud Category)
Appendix B2: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Categories1

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 79 of 102 Released February 2016

Advance Payments for Credit Services 57,690 2.65% 38,853 1.48% 24,433 0.79%

Auto-Related Complaints 89,317 4.11% 93,252 3.55% 93,917 3.05%

Banks and Lenders 160,427 7.37% 134,755 5.12% 131,875 4.28%

Business and Job Opportunities 33,776 1.55% 21,035 0.80% 17,314 0.56%

Buyers' Clubs 1,987 0.09% 1,420 0.05% 1,168 0.04%

Charitable Solicitations 2,727 0.13% 2,741 0.10% 2,747 0.09%

Computer Equipment and Software 14,670 0.67% 13,132 0.50% 8,119 0.26%

Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users 32,635 1.50% 39,416 1.50% 43,939 1.43%

Credit Cards 35,799 1.65% 32,982 1.25% 37,750 1.22%

Debt Collection 207,984 9.56% 283,943 10.80% 897,655 29.11%

Education 3,906 0.18% 5,874 0.22% 6,973 0.23%

Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams 24,930 1.15% 21,453 0.82% 25,324 0.82%

Funeral Services 1,296 0.06% 1,222 0.05% 1,123 0.04%

Grants 8,969 0.41% 8,128 0.31% 4,077 0.13%

Health Care 43,482 2.00% 40,868 1.55% 34,669 1.12%

Home Repair, Improvement and Products 10,296 0.47% 8,376 0.32% 8,364 0.27%

Identity Theft 290,102 13.34% 332,647 12.65% 490,220 15.90%

Impostor Scams 126,263 5.80% 282,625 10.75% 353,770 11.47%

Internet Auction 21,196 0.97% 19,789 0.75% 2,430 0.08%

Internet Services 52,131 2.40% 48,464 1.84% 40,106 1.30%

Investment-Related Complaints 6,534 0.30% 11,199 0.43% 26,453 0.86%

Magazines and Books 15,179 0.70% 12,523 0.48% 8,866 0.29%

Mortgage Foreclosure Relief and Debt Management 21,384 0.98% 12,963 0.49% 10,210 0.33%

Office Supplies and Services 20,663 0.95% 12,882 0.49% 10,287 0.33%

Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries 98,006 4.51% 103,801 3.95% 140,136 4.54%

Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales 69,648 3.20% 73,260 2.79% 96,363 3.13%

Tax Preparers 682 0.03% 6,421 0.24% 2,991 0.10%

Telephone and Mobile Services 120,766 5.55% 174,558 6.64% 275,754 8.94%

Television and Electronic Media 56,386 2.59% 51,485 1.96% 47,728 1.55%

Travel, Vacations and Timeshare Plans 31,648 1.45% 27,463 1.04% 24,171 0.78%

Category

CY - 2013 CY - 2014 CY - 2015

Complaints / Percentages1 Complaints / Percentages1 Complaints / Percentages1

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; 

CY-2015 = 3,083,379. Note that counts and percentages may not add up to the total in each category because CSN complaints may 

have multiple product service codes.
Appendix B3: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Category Details1

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 80 of 102 Released February 2016

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; 

CY-2015 = 3,083,379. Note that counts and percentages may not add up to the total in each category because CSN complaints may 

have multiple product service codes.

Advance Payments for Credit Services

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Advance-Fee Loans, Credit Arrangers 53,891 2.48 % 34,656 1.32% 19,908 0.65 %

Credit Card Loss Protection 938 0.04 % 373 0.01% 266 0.01 %

Credit Repair 2,017 0.09 % 2,261 0.09% 1,751 0.06 %

Recovery\Refund Companies 846 0.04 % 1,563 0.06% 2,509 0.08 %

Count/Percentage: 57,690 2.65% 38,853 1.48% 24,433 0.79%

Auto-Related Complaints

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Auto: Financing 4,100 0.19 % 5,573 0.21% 7,209 0.23 %

Auto: Gas 2,632 0.12 % 1,314 0.05% 241 0.01 %

Auto: Parts & Repairs 4,077 0.19 % 5,451 0.21% 6,154 0.20 %

Auto: Renting & Leasing 8,784 0.40 % 10,366 0.39% 11,199 0.36 %

Auto: Sales – New 37,554 1.73 % 38,090 1.45% 38,081 1.24 %

Auto: Sales – Used 29,039 1.33 % 29,414 1.12% 27,962 0.91 %

Auto: Warranty Plans & Services 4,309 0.20 % 4,477 0.17% 4,387 0.14 %

Count/Percentage: 89,317 4.11% 93,252 3.55% 93,917 3.05%

Banks and Lenders

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Banks, Savings & Loans, and Credit Unions 41,563 1.91 % 40,941 1.56% 42,712 1.39 %

Lending: Auto Title Loans 183 0.01 % 491 0.02% 827 0.03 %

Lending: Banks & Credit Unions 3,295 0.15 % 1,733 0.07% 640 0.02 %

Lending: Finance Company 7,925 0.36 % 7,695 0.29% 7,259 0.24 %

Lending: Mortgage 79,717 3.66 % 58,606 2.23% 57,428 1.86 %

Lending: Other Institutions 12,635 0.58 % 7,838 0.30% 6,233 0.20 %

Lending: Payday Loans 10,487 0.48 % 10,408 0.40% 8,706 0.28 %

Lending: Student Loans 4,752 0.22 % 7,162 0.27% 8,142 0.26 %

Count/Percentage: 160,427 7.37% 134,755 5.12% 131,875 4.28%

Business and Job Opportunities

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Business Opportunities\Work-At-Home Plans 11,638 0.53 % 10,136 0.39% 8,379 0.27 %

Employ Agencies\Job Counsel\Overseas Work 20,139 0.93 % 8,708 0.33% 6,648 0.22 %

Franchises\Distributorships 283 0.01 % 391 0.01% 367 0.01 %

Inventions\Idea Promotions 600 0.03 % 555 0.02% 592 0.02 %

Multi-Level Mktg\Pyramids\Chain Letters 1,896 0.09 % 1,790 0.07% 1,680 0.05 %

Count/Percentage: 33,776 1.55% 21,035 0.80% 17,314 0.56%

Buyers' Clubs

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Buyers Clubs (not travel or lottery) 1,987 0.09 % 1,420 0.05% 1,168 0.04 %

Count/Percentage: 1,987 0.09% 1,420 0.05% 1,168 0.04%

Charitable Solicitations

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Charitable Solicitations 2,727 0.13 % 2,741 0.10% 2,747 0.09 %

Count/Percentage: 2,727 0.13% 2,741 0.10% 2,747 0.09%
Appendix B3: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Category Details1

Federal Trade Commission Page 81 of 102 Released February 2016

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; 

CY-2015 = 3,083,379. Note that counts and percentages may not add up to the total in each category because CSN complaints may 

have multiple product service codes.

Computer Equipment and Software

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Computers: Equipment\Software 14,670 0.67 % 13,132 0.50% 8,119 0.26 %

Count/Percentage: 14,670 0.67% 13,132 0.50% 8,119 0.26%

Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Credit Bureaus 29,601 1.36 % 38,904 1.48% 43,302 1.40 %

Credit Information Furnishers 3,557 0.16 % 1,166 0.04% 1,295 0.04 %

Credit Report Users 508 0.02 % 184 0.01% 203 0.01 %

Count/Percentage: 32,635 1.50% 39,416 1.50% 43,939 1.43%

Credit Cards

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Credit Cards 35,799 1.65 % 32,982 1.25% 37,750 1.22 %

Count/Percentage: 35,799 1.65% 32,982 1.25% 37,750 1.22%

Debt Collection

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Creditor Debt Collection 13,356 0.61 % 1,353 0.05% 2,511 0.08 %

Third Party Debt Collection 195,403 8.98 % 282,611 10.75% 895,158 29.03 %

Count/Percentage: 207,984 9.56% 283,943 10.80% 897,655 29.11%

Education

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Education: Colleges and Universities 287 0.01 % 2,325 0.09% 4,168 0.14 %

Education: Trade\Vocational Schools 3,669 0.17 % 3,607 0.14% 2,872 0.09 %

Count/Percentage: 3,906 0.18% 5,874 0.22% 6,973 0.23%

Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Counterfeit Check Scams 15,035 0.69 % 12,776 0.49% 14,424 0.47 %

Nigerian\Other Foreign Money Offers (not prizes) 9,914 0.46 % 8,678 0.33% 10,902 0.35 %

Count/Percentage: 24,930 1.15% 21,453 0.82% 25,324 0.82%

Funeral Services

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Funeral Services 1,296 0.06 % 1,222 0.05% 1,123 0.04 %

Count/Percentage: 1,296 0.06% 1,222 0.05% 1,123 0.04%

Grants

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Grants: Non-Educational 7,091 0.33 % 6,375 0.24% 2,997 0.10 %

Scholarships\Educational Grants 1,891 0.09 % 1,754 0.07% 1,080 0.04 %

Count/Percentage: 8,969 0.41% 8,128 0.31% 4,077 0.13%
Appendix B3: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Category Details1

Federal Trade Commission Page 82 of 102 Released February 2016

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; 

CY-2015 = 3,083,379. Note that counts and percentages may not add up to the total in each category because CSN complaints may 

have multiple product service codes.

Health Care

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Health Care: Diet Products\Centers\Plans 20,603 0.95 % 20,601 0.78% 15,980 0.52 %

Health Care: Dietary Supplements\Herbal Remedies 2,931 0.13 % 3,506 0.13% 2,569 0.08 %

Health Care: Drugs-OTC\Prescription 1,162 0.05 % 941 0.04% 950 0.03 %

Health Care: Eye Care 3,370 0.15 % 3,181 0.12% 3,150 0.10 %

Health Care: Medical Discount Plans\Cards\Insurance 3,751 0.17 % 3,170 0.12% 3,256 0.11 %

Health Care: Other Medical Treatments 2,813 0.13 % 2,447 0.09% 2,459 0.08 %

Health Care: Other Products\Supplies 8,920 0.41 % 7,076 0.27% 6,350 0.21 %

Count/Percentage: 43,482 2.00% 40,868 1.55% 34,669 1.12%

Home Repair, Improvement and Products

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Home Appliances 1,779 0.08 % 1,685 0.06% 1,613 0.05 %

Home Furnishings 1,571 0.07 % 1,004 0.04% 1,170 0.04 %

Home Protection Devices 1,324 0.06 % 837 0.03% 957 0.03 %

Home Repair 2,321 0.11 % 1,886 0.07% 2,096 0.07 %

Housing 3,338 0.15% 2,997 0.11% 2,542 0.08%

Count/Percentage: 10,296 0.47% 8,376 0.32% 8,364 0.27%

Identity Theft

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Identity Theft 290,102 13.34 % 332,647 12.65% 490,220 15.90 %

Count/Percentage: 290,102 13.34 % 332,647 12.65% 490,220 15.90 %

Impostor Scams

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Impostor: Business 39,813 1.83 % 102,867 3.91% 68,604 2.22 %

Impostor: Family\Friend 12,404 0.57 % 14,525 0.55% 10,565 0.34 %

Impostor: Government 64,814 2.98 % 160,770 6.11% 228,066 7.40 %

Romance Scams 9,833 0.45 % 5,241 0.20% 8,315 0.27 %

Tech Support Scams 16 <0.01% 103 <0.01% 39,924 1.29 %

Count/Percentage: 126,263 5.80% 282,625 10.75% 353,770 11.47%

Internet Auction

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Internet Auction 21,196 0.97 % 19,789 0.75% 2,430 0.08 %

Count/Percentage: 21,196 0.97% 19,789 0.75% 2,430 0.08%

Internet Services

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Internet Access Services 7,260 0.33 % 7,082 0.27% 7,029 0.23 %

Internet Gaming 3,140 0.14 % 3,099 0.12% 2,707 0.09 %

Internet Information Services 31,335 1.44 % 27,644 1.05% 22,818 0.74 %

Internet Web Site Design\Promotion 4,436 0.20 % 3,956 0.15% 3,412 0.11 %

Social Networking Service 1,693 0.08 % 1,272 0.05% 1,335 0.04 %

Spyware\Adware\Malware 4,392 0.20 % 5,445 0.21% 2,825 0.09 %

Count/Percentage: 52,131 2.40% 48,464 1.84% 40,106 1.30%
Appendix B3: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Category Details1

Federal Trade Commission Page 83 of 102 Released February 2016

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; 

CY-2015 = 3,083,379. Note that counts and percentages may not add up to the total in each category because CSN complaints may 

have multiple product service codes.

Investment-Related Complaints

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Invest: Advice, Seminars 1,997 0.09 % 5,516 0.21% 6,880 0.22 %

Invest: Art\Gems\Rare Coins 1,036 0.05 % 586 0.02% 475 0.02 %

Invest: Other (note in comments) 2,604 0.12 % 4,197 0.16% 18,049 0.59 %

Invest: Stocks\Commodity Futures Trading 898 0.04 % 904 0.03% 1,050 0.03 %

Count/Percentage: 6,534 0.30% 11,199 0.43% 26,453 0.86%

Magazines and Books

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Books 3,440 0.16 % 3,014 0.11% 2,182 0.07 %

Magazines 12,024 0.55 % 9,806 0.37% 6,900 0.22 %

Count/Percentage: 15,179 0.70% 12,523 0.48% 8,866 0.29%

Mortgage Foreclosure Relief and Debt Management

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Debt Management\Credit Counseling 5,217 0.24 % 5,136 0.20% 5,399 0.18 %

Mortgage Modification\Foreclosure Relief 16,169 0.74 % 7,829 0.30% 4,811 0.16 %

Count/Percentage: 21,384 0.98% 12,963 0.49% 10,210 0.33%

Office Supplies and Services

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Office Supplies and Services 6,070 0.28 % 4,302 0.16% 3,528 0.11 %

Office: Ad Space\Directory Listings 14,596 0.67 % 8,581 0.33% 6,759 0.22 %

Count/Percentage: 20,663 0.95% 12,882 0.49% 10,287 0.33%

Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Prizes\Sweepstakes\Lotteries 98,006 4.51 % 103,801 3.95% 140,136 4.54 %

Count/Percentage: 98,006 4.51% 103,801 3.95% 140,136 4.54%

Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Shop-at-Home\Catalog Sales 69,648 3.20 % 73,260 2.79% 96,363 3.13 %

Count/Percentage: 69,648 3.20% 73,260 2.79% 96,363 3.13%

Tax Preparers

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Tax Preparers 682 0.03 % 6,421 0.24% 2,991 0.10 %

Count/Percentage: 682 0.03% 6,421 0.24% 2,991 0.10%
Appendix B3: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Category Details1

Federal Trade Commission Page 84 of 102 Released February 2016

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; 

CY-2015 = 3,083,379. Note that counts and percentages may not add up to the total in each category because CSN complaints may 

have multiple product service codes.

Telephone and Mobile Services

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Mobile: Applications\Other Downloads 554 0.03 % 1,505 0.06% 1,174 0.04 %

Mobile: Carrier Rates\Plans 2,482 0.11 % 6,426 0.24% 6,727 0.22 %

Mobile: Other 53,361 2.45 % 49,391 1.88% 45,937 1.49 %

Mobile: Text Messages 54,806 2.52 % 106,451 4.05% 206,865 6.71 %

Mobile: Unauthorized Charges or Debits 366 0.02 % 1,677 0.06% 1,913 0.06 %

Telephone: Carrier Switching 331 0.02 % 482 0.02% 467 0.02 %

Telephone: Other 8,009 0.37 % 8,277 0.31% 12,733 0.41 %

Telephone: Prepaid Phone Cards 1,799 0.08 % 2,406 0.09% 1,828 0.06 %

Telephone: Unauthorized Charges or Debits 1,048 0.05 % 900 0.03% 909 0.03 %

Telephone: VoIP Services 788 0.04 % 875 0.03% 776 0.03 %

Unsolicited Faxes 175 0.01 % 2 <0.01% - -

Count/Percentage: 120,766 5.55% 174,558 6.64% 275,754 8.94%

Television and Electronic Media

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

DVD\Video\Film 235 0.01 % 141 0.01% 116 <0.01%

Music: All Formats 438 0.02 % 325 0.01% 186 0.01 %

Television (Programming and Advertisements) 1,354 0.06 % 1,978 0.08% 1,312 0.04 %

Television: Satellite & Cable 50,605 2.33 % 46,537 1.77% 44,195 1.43 %

Video Games 3,757 0.17 % 2,506 0.10% 1,923 0.06 %

Count/Percentage: 56,386 2.59% 51,485 1.96% 47,728 1.55%

Travel, Vacations and Timeshare Plans

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Timeshare Resales 3,816 0.18 % 2,827 0.11% 1,936 0.06 %

Timeshare Sales 6,534 0.30 % 6,349 0.24% 5,418 0.18 %

Travel\Vacations 21,380 0.98 % 18,327 0.70% 16,833 0.55 %

Count/Percentage: 31,648 1.45% 27,463 1.04% 24,171 0.78%
Appendix B3: Consumer Sentinel Network Complaint Category Details1

Federal Trade Commission Page 85 of 102 Released February 2016

Calendar Years 2013 through 2015

1Percentages are based on the total number of CSN complaints for each calendar year: CY-2013 = 2,175,355; CY-2014 = 2,629,987; 

CY-2015 = 3,083,379. Note that counts and percentages may not add up to the total in each category because CSN complaints may 

have multiple product service codes.

Miscellaneous Complaints

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Children's Products 1,542 0.07% 1,476 0.06% 1,267 0.04%

Food 747 0.03% 799 0.03% 728 0.02%

Garments, Wool, Leather Goods & Textiles 864 0.04% 328 0.01% 333 0.01%

Health Care Provider Billing 772 0.04% 641 0.02% 736 0.02%

Immigration Services 908 0.04% 1,196 0.05% 959 0.03%

Insurance (Other than Medical) 2,235 0.10% 1,910 0.07% 2,004 0.06%

Jewelry\Watches 885 0.04% 496 0.02% 399 0.01%

Leasing: Business 424 0.02% 527 0.02% 352 0.01%

Modeling Agencies\Services 793 0.04% 611 0.02% 358 0.01%

Personal Care Products 524 0.02% 399 0.02% 436 0.01%

Property\Inheritance Tracers 1,269 0.06% 785 0.03% 1,169 0.04%

Real Estate (not Timeshares) 18,282 0.84% 5,016 0.19% 595 0.02%

Tobacco Products 1,268 0.06% 1,070 0.04% 611 0.02%

Utilities 1,903 0.09% 1,892 0.07% 2,244 0.07%

Unspecified Complaints

Product Service CY - 2013 Percentage1 CY - 2014 Percentage1 CY - 2015 Percentage1

Other (Note in Comments) 298,525 13.72% 334,036 12.70% 126,482 4.10%

Telemarketing Practices 185,801 8.54% 364,190 13.85% 74,623 2.42%

Unauthorized Debits or Charges for Unknown Products 2,013 0.09% 1,575 0.06% 1,796 0.06%

Unsolicited Email 11,424 0.53% 9,190 0.35% 12,712 0.41%
1Average amount paid is based on the total number of fraud complaints where amount paid was reported by consumers from the respective states. The amount paid is based on 

complaints reporting values from $0 to $999,999.

Note: This appendix excludes 20 state-specific data contributors (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, 

the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for Alaska, California, Colorado, 

Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).

Appendix C: Consumer Sentinel Network Fraud Complaints 

& Amount Paid Reported by State and the District of Columbia 

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 86 of 102 Released February 2016

State Name

Total Fraud 

Complaints

Total Amount 

Paid Reported

Complaints 

Reporting 

Amount Paid

Percentages 

Reporting 

Amount Paid

Average 

Amount 

Paid1

Alabama 17,133 $7,516,909 8,196 48% $917

Alaska 2,231 $1,285,372 1,252 56% $1,027

Arizona 22,857 $14,831,592 13,606 60% $1,090

Arkansas 8,692 $3,320,677 4,424 51% $751

California 126,489 $90,553,043 61,674 49% $1,468

Colorado 17,897 $10,504,018 10,412 58% $1,009

Connecticut 10,330 $7,175,251 6,068 59% $1,182

Delaware 3,775 $1,236,744 2,203 58% $561

District of Columbia 3,789 $2,716,022 1,923 51% $1,412

Florida 90,026 $41,198,652 39,242 44% $1,050

Georgia 40,319 $14,676,725 16,810 42% $873

Hawaii 3,497 $5,320,392 2,082 60% $2,555

Idaho 4,471 $2,609,623 2,774 62% $941

Illinois 33,439 $17,107,752 18,871 56% $907

Indiana 19,323 $9,226,179 10,673 55% $864

Iowa 7,058 $4,490,905 3,872 55% $1,160

Kansas 7,778 $4,927,452 4,776 61% $1,032

Kentucky 11,649 $4,611,905 6,532 56% $706

Louisiana 14,783 $7,160,457 7,512 51% $953

Maine 3,565 $1,055,300 2,106 59% $501

Maryland 22,649 $12,531,708 12,882 57% $973

Massachusetts 20,584 $10,816,583 11,458 56% $944

Michigan 38,290 $12,767,593 15,564 41% $820

Minnesota 15,278 $13,692,360 9,756 64% $1,403

Mississippi 8,753 $5,585,265 4,910 56% $1,138

Missouri 18,223 $9,274,904 9,963 55% $931

Montana 3,211 $2,454,134 1,922 60% $1,277

Nebraska 4,839 $3,967,979 2,900 60% $1,368

Nevada 11,408 $8,270,489 6,180 54% $1,338

New Hampshire 4,119 $2,599,169 2,235 54% $1,163

New Jersey 26,781 $14,233,375 15,331 57% $928

New Mexico 6,487 $5,206,417 3,638 56% $1,431

New York 54,008 $31,510,374 29,780 55% $1,058

North Carolina 30,036 $15,960,685 17,063 57% $935

North Dakota 1,422 $895,379 822 58% $1,089

Ohio 32,758 $12,562,571 17,568 54% $715

Oklahoma 10,709 $4,965,754 5,701 53% $871

Oregon 12,713 $11,050,765 7,343 58% $1,505

Pennsylvania 39,457 $19,249,752 21,436 54% $898

Rhode Island 3,280 $1,314,453 1,546 47% $850

South Carolina 14,773 $8,202,928 8,615 58% $952

South Dakota 1,915 $871,222 1,041 54% $837

Tennessee 22,620 $12,405,465 12,130 54% $1,023

Texas 84,767 $47,044,491 40,668 48% $1,157

Utah 7,285 $5,526,770 4,483 62% $1,233

Vermont 1,618 $796,600 969 60% $822

Virginia 27,953 $17,283,751 16,300 58% $1,060

Washington 21,670 $15,788,185 12,694 59% $1,244

West Virginia 5,648 $2,216,281 3,507 62% $632

Wisconsin 14,904 $9,291,873 8,358 56% $1,112

Wyoming 1,654 $950,697 860 52% $1,105
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Abilene, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 521 309.0 298

Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,689 382.1 141

Albany, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 529 341.5 226

Albany, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 493 413.1 86

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,330 378.3 152

Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,850 425.6 68

Alexandria, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 516 333.2 243

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,092 372.6 163

Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 451 358.1 198

Amarillo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 779 299.7 310

Anchorage, AK Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,586 397.6 109

Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,378 386.1 137

Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 576 496.9 18

Appleton, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 593 256.2 360

Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,994 450.8 46

Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 633 318.1 275

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 26,684 475.3 30

Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,245 452.4 44

Auburn-Opelika, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 544 352.7 211

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,388 409.2 92

Augusta-Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area 377 311.3 290

Austin-Round Rock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 8,172 420.5 76

Bakersfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,644 302.3 307

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 14,063 504.8 16

Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 597 389.1 127

Barnstable Town, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 792 368.5 178

Baton Rouge, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,098 375.3 157

Battle Creek, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 426 315.8 278

Bay City, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 330 310.8 292

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,379 340.1 231

Beckley, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 404 327.5 255

Bellingham, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 760 364.8 185

Bend-Redmond, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 628 368.6 177

Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 560 335.6 238

Binghamton, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 899 363.6 188

Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,228 457.1 42

Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area 263 207.7 373

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 616 339.2 234

Bloomington, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 620 325.7 260

Bloomington, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 517 314.7 281

Bluefield, WV-VA Micropolitan Statistical Area 396 376.3 156

Boise City, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,707 407.4 94

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area 16,631 351.4 213

Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,251 399.3 106

Bowling Green, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 597 360.2 192

Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,136 446.9 49

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,152 333.4 242

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 640 152.2 378

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).

Federal Trade Commission Page 87 of 102 Released February 2016
1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).

Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Brunswick, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 478 416.4 81

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,739 417.0 80

Burlington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 608 390.3 124

Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area 675 312.3 284

California-Lexington Park, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 435 394.1 115

Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,536 380.3 147

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,845 418.7 79

Carbondale-Marion, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 418 330.0 248

Cedar Rapids, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 802 303.9 304

Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 504 329.6 250

Champaign-Urbana, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 759 319.9 273

Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 770 345.5 220

Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,908 399.6 104

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 11,603 487.5 21

Charlottesville, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 902 397.4 110

Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,436 447.3 48

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 35,300 369.5 171

Chico, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 707 315.3 279

Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 8,175 380.3 147

Claremont-Lebanon, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area 772 354.7 205

Clarksville, TN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,238 444.8 51

Cleveland, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 486 406.0 95

Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 9,310 451.2 45

Coeur d'Alene, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 590 400.5 100

College Station-Bryan, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 676 278.3 342

Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,163 460.5 39

Columbia, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 557 322.5 269

Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,571 446.1 50

Columbus, GA-AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,447 460.8 37

Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 8,165 409.4 90

Concord, NH Micropolitan Statistical Area 554 376.4 155

Cookeville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area 352 326.6 258

Corpus Christi, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,255 280.1 338

Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 997 386.4 135

Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 421 418.8 78

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 29,810 428.7 66

Dalton, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 380 265.8 353

Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Area 373 355.8 203

Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 749 374.3 158

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,082 282.5 336

Dayton, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,144 392.6 120

Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 421 275.0 347

Decatur, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 262 241.8 368

Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,211 526.4 11

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 12,974 471.1 31

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,843 301.4 309

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 16,371 381.0 145

Dothan, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 468 316.0 276

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 88 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Dover, DE Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,019 592.5 5

Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,004 358.3 196

Dunn, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area 407 321.3 271

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,905 351.0 215

East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 797 479.2 29

Eau Claire, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 480 290.9 326

El Centro, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 307 171.4 377

El Paso, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,221 265.4 354

Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 601 396.5 112

Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 535 264.9 355

Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,000 359.1 195

Eugene, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,363 380.4 146

Eureka-Arcata-Fortuna, CA Micropolitan Statistical Area 486 360.5 191

Evansville, IN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,158 367.4 181

Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 584 255.8 361

Farmington, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 333 269.0 351

Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,567 414.6 83

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,648 328.5 252

Flagstaff, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 454 329.7 249

Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,477 357.7 200

Florence, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 706 341.0 229

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 427 289.2 328

Fond du Lac, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 325 319.4 274

Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,409 434.7 59

Fort Smith, AR-OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 867 310.1 296

Fort Wayne, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,507 352.8 210

Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,006 311.2 291

Gadsden, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 371 358.3 196

Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,754 641.6 3

Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 522 273.6 348

Gettysburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 297 292.0 325

Glens Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 464 364.4 187

Goldsboro, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 319 256.3 359

Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 207 203.3 375

Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 479 323.1 266

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,246 315.9 277

Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,073 386.4 135

Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 990 314.8 280

Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,929 392.3 122

Greenville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 550 313.7 283

Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,567 413.6 84

Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,422 368.3 179

Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,090 419.1 77

Hammond, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 438 344.7 222

Hanford-Corcoran, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 420 279.5 341

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,246 400.5 100

Harrisonburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 363 277.8 343

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,428 364.7 186

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 89 of 102 Released February 2016

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 577 388.1 129

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,205 332.1 245

Hilo, HI Micropolitan Statistical Area 741 381.6 142

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 772 380.3 147

Holland, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area 336 295.1 319

Homosassa Springs, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,798 1,290.0 1

Houma-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 600 283.9 334

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 23,746 365.9 183

Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,122 308.8 299

Huntsville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,710 387.7 130

Idaho Falls, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 423 305.9 301

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 7,750 393.1 119

Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 483 293.9 321

Ithaca, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 327 312.3 284

Jackson, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 492 308.0 300

Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,364 409.3 91

Jackson, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 461 354.0 207

Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 7,404 521.7 13

Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 794 423.3 72

Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area 377 285.5 331

Janesville-Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 503 312.1 286

Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 425 281.7 337

Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 737 366.5 182

Johnstown, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 496 360.1 193

Jonesboro, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 360 284.0 333

Joplin, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 553 314.0 282

Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area 527 323.1 266

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,241 371.5 165

Kankakee, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 307 275.6 346

Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 8,239 397.8 108

Kennewick-Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 767 279.6 340

Killeen-Temple, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,932 454.7 43

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 912 296.0 316

Kingston, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 741 410.7 87

Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,564 415.6 82

La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 369 269.8 350

Lafayette, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,389 286.4 329

Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 628 296.7 315

Lake Charles, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 762 373.7 159

Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 817 401.7 98

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,604 410.3 89

Lancaster, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,517 284.4 332

Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,558 331.2 247

Laredo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 547 205.1 374

Las Cruces, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 729 341.2 228

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 10,816 522.6 12

Lawrence, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 384 329.4 251

Lawton, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 500 381.1 144

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 90 of 102 Released February 2016

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Lebanon, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 453 332.2 244

Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 321 298.8 313

Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,593 322.3 270

Lima, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 294 279.9 339

Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,030 322.9 268

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,870 393.6 116

Logan, UT-ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 317 241.3 369

London, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area 321 252.1 365

Longview, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 770 354.1 206

Longview, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 327 320.2 272

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 48,981 369.3 172

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,372 423.1 73

Lubbock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,312 429.3 64

Lumberton, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area 409 303.5 305

Lynchburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 992 384.7 138

Macon, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 904 392.3 122

Madera, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 387 250.4 366

Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,132 336.4 236

Manchester-Nashua, NH Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,729 426.7 67

Mansfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 364 298.5 314

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,115 134.2 379

Medford, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 813 386.6 133

Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 6,186 460.5 39

Merced, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 628 235.8 371

Meridian, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area 363 341.8 224

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 28,598 482.3 25

Michigan City-La Porte, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 470 421.7 75

Midland, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 445 275.9 345

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,827 370.6 168

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 13,758 393.6 116

Missoula, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 547 485.4 23

Mobile, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,535 369.8 170

Modesto, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,590 298.9 312

Monroe, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 707 395.3 113

Monroe, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 533 355.8 203

Montgomery, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,809 484.8 24

Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 461 335.9 237

Morristown, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 384 331.9 246

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 393 326.5 259

Muncie, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 379 323.7 263

Muskegon, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 510 295.9 317

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,250 538.7 9

Napa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 548 386.8 132

Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,302 373.3 161

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 8,376 467.2 35

New Bern, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 415 325.4 261

New Haven-Milford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,334 387.1 131

New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,175 413.4 85

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 91 of 102 Released February 2016

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 74,212 369.3 172

Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 573 369.1 174

North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,595 480.2 28

Norwich-New London, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,035 378.2 153

Ocala, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,594 470.0 33

Odessa, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 478 310.6 294

Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,963 310.5 295

Ogdensburg-Massena, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area 285 255.8 361

Oklahoma City, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,811 359.9 194

Olympia-Tumwater, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,169 439.7 55

Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,449 381.3 143

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 10,921 470.4 32

Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 501 295.6 318

Ottawa-Peru, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area 396 262.4 357

Owensboro, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 343 294.4 320

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,580 423.1 73

Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,069 551.1 7

Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 746 382.7 140

Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,278 480.5 27

Peoria, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,297 341.3 227

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 26,145 432.1 62

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 20,978 467.3 34

Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 10,008 424.8 69

Pittsfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 489 379.9 150

Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,143 482.2 26

Portland-South Portland, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,875 358.1 198

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 9,961 424.2 71

Pottsville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area 551 377.9 154

Prescott, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,306 596.8 4

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,022 312.0 287

Provo-Orem, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,511 264.4 356

Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 751 463.9 36

Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 850 504.5 17

Racine, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 639 327.4 256

Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,804 386.5 134

Rapid City, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 499 347.4 219

Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,460 352.9 209

Redding, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 719 399.9 103

Reno, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,971 443.9 52

Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 6,145 487.7 20

Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area 338 324.5 262

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 16,116 362.8 190

Roanoke, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,166 372.1 164

Rochester, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 625 293.7 322

Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,022 371.2 166

Rockford, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,121 327.4 256

Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 451 302.1 308

Roseburg, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area 422 394.5 114

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 92 of 102 Released February 2016

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 9,923 442.1 53

Saginaw, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 571 292.8 324

Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area 320 302.8 306

Salem, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,325 327.9 254

Salinas, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,128 261.5 358

Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,591 408.0 93

Salt Lake City, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,075 353.3 208

San Angelo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 347 293.6 323

San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 8,308 356.8 202

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 12,996 398.2 107

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 18,411 400.8 99

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 6,862 351.4 213

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 983 352.2 212

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 911 335.2 240

Santa Fe, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 816 550.7 8

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,369 310.7 293

Santa Rosa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,865 372.8 162

Savannah, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,611 432.2 61

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,197 392.5 121

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 15,596 424.8 69

Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 741 511.9 15

Sheboygan, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 412 357.4 201

Sherman-Denison, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 507 410.4 88

Show Low, AZ Micropolitan Statistical Area 313 289.5 327

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,801 404.6 97

Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 675 529.6 10

Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 401 237.6 370

Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 847 341.0 229

South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,083 339.3 233

Spartanburg, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,183 368.1 180

Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,492 460.7 38

Springfield, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 847 400.3 102

Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,120 337.0 235

Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,677 370.8 167

Springfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 542 396.9 111

St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 489 254.1 364

St. George, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 421 277.1 344

St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 341 267.6 352

St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 10,939 389.8 126

State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 388 244.4 367

Staunton-Waynesboro, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 410 342.3 223

Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,189 305.9 301

Sumter, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 354 328.0 253

Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,601 393.2 118

Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,654 440.2 54

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 15,020 515.2 14

Terre Haute, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 531 309.7 297

Texarkana, TX-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 672 450.3 47

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 93 of 102 Released February 2016

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

The Villages, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 446 390.0 125

Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,118 348.7 218

Topeka, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,009 431.6 63

Torrington, CT Micropolitan Statistical Area 709 383.3 139

Traverse City, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area 422 285.9 330

Trenton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,701 457.8 41

Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,311 429.2 65

Tullahoma-Manchester, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area 340 335.5 239

Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,386 349.4 217

Tupelo, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area 612 438.0 56

Tuscaloosa, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 950 399.6 104

Twin Falls, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area 347 334.5 241

Tyler, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 850 388.4 128

Urban Honolulu, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,205 323.2 265

Utica-Rome, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 959 323.3 264

Valdosta, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 543 378.9 151

Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,872 434.2 60

Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 543 345.0 221

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 7,469 435.1 58

Visalia-Porterville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,060 231.3 372

Waco, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 953 365.9 183

Warner Robins, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 821 437.8 57

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 34,185 566.6 6

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 460 270.6 349

Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 357 299.7 310

Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 501 369.0 176

Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 870 717.0 2

Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 291 254.4 363

Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 453 312.0 287

Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area 293 283.0 335

Wichita Falls, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 566 373.5 160

Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,999 311.8 289

Williamsport, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 396 339.9 232

Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,010 370.6 168

Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 648 485.7 22

Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,659 405.9 96

Wooster, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area 566 489.9 19

Worcester, MA-CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,255 349.8 216

Yakima, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 846 341.6 225

York-Hanover, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,601 363.2 189

Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,042 369.1 174

Yuba City, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 518 305.0 303

Yuma, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 404 198.8 376

Appendix D1: Fraud and Other Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

Federal Trade Commission Page 94 of 102 Released February 2016

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is based on the number of fraud and 

other complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and 

per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident 

Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Note: In calculating the State and Metropolitan Areas rankings, we excluded 20 state-specific data contributors’ complaints (the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, the Montana, North 

Carolina and Oregon Departments of Justice, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Offices of the Attorneys General for 

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio and Washington).
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Abilene, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 127 75.3 335

Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,066 151.5 51

Albany, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 161 103.9 183

Albany, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 143 119.8 125

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 838 95.2 230

Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,225 135.4 81

Alexandria, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 119 76.8 330

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 962 115.9 140

Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 98 77.8 322

Amarillo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 275 105.8 179

Anchorage, AK Metropolitan Statistical Area 463 116.1 139

Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 683 191.4 20

Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 99 85.4 283

Appleton, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 246 106.3 177

Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 406 91.8 247

Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 176 88.4 266

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 10,418 185.6 24

Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 311 113.0 155

Auburn-Opelika, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 139 90.1 257

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 660 113.1 154

Augusta-Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area 134 110.6 163

Austin-Round Rock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,900 149.2 55

Bakersfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,171 133.9 85

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,144 184.6 25

Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 153 99.7 207

Barnstable Town, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 222 103.3 187

Baton Rouge, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 835 101.2 201

Battle Creek, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 157 116.4 135

Bay City, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 113 106.4 175

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 437 107.8 167

Beckley, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 161 130.5 94

Bellingham, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 179 85.9 278

Bend-Redmond, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 147 86.3 274

Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 151 90.5 255

Binghamton, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 206 83.3 303

Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,207 105.5 180

Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area 103 81.4 310

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 132 72.7 347

Bloomington, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 190 99.8 206

Bloomington, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 141 85.8 279

Bluefield, WV-VA Micropolitan Statistical Area 85 80.8 313

Boise City, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 903 135.9 79

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area 6,507 137.5 75

Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 420 134.0 84

Bowling Green, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 158 95.3 228

Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 245 96.4 225

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,400 253.9 5

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 424 100.9 204

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 95 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Brunswick, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 110 95.8 226

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,014 89.2 261

Burlington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 138 88.6 265

Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area 219 101.3 200

California-Lexington Park, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 394 356.9 2

Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 471 116.6 134

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,183 174.1 32

Carbondale-Marion, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 123 97.1 221

Cedar Rapids, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 249 94.4 234

Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 123 80.4 316

Champaign-Urbana, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 243 102.4 195

Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 187 83.9 297

Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 808 111.0 162

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,202 134.5 83

Charlottesville, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 366 161.3 47

Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 519 95.3 228

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 14,252 149.2 55

Chico, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 316 140.9 67

Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,692 125.2 110

Claremont-Lebanon, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area 233 107.1 171

Clarksville, TN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 270 97.0 222

Cleveland, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 90 75.2 336

Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,440 166.7 38

Coeur d'Alene, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 146 99.1 211

College Station-Bryan, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 272 112.0 160

Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 938 136.6 76

Columbia, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 379 219.4 11

Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 831 103.8 184

Columbus, GA-AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 354 112.7 157

Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,926 146.7 61

Concord, NH Micropolitan Statistical Area 216 146.8 60

Cookeville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area 70 65.0 360

Corpus Christi, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 515 114.9 144

Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 326 126.3 107

Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 84 83.6 300

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 13,364 192.2 19

Dalton, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 117 81.8 307

Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Area 78 74.4 341

Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 188 93.9 237

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 330 86.2 275

Dayton, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,367 170.7 34

Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 129 84.3 295

Decatur, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 67 61.8 368

Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 952 156.1 49

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,648 132.4 90

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 645 105.5 180

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 9,468 220.4 10

Dothan, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 146 98.6 214

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 96 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Dover, DE Metropolitan Statistical Area 196 114.0 150

Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 266 94.9 231

Dunn, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area 119 93.9 237

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 612 112.8 156

East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 145 87.2 269

Eau Claire, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 209 126.6 104

El Centro, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 136 75.9 332

El Paso, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 956 114.3 148

Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 128 84.4 293

Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 143 70.8 350

Erie, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 284 102.0 196

Eugene, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 395 110.2 165

Eureka-Arcata-Fortuna, CA Micropolitan Statistical Area 132 97.9 218

Evansville, IN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 211 66.9 357

Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 193 84.5 291

Farmington, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 66 53.3 377

Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 402 106.4 175

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 376 75.0 339

Flagstaff, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 167 121.3 121

Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 589 142.7 65

Florence, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 178 86.0 277

Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 99 67.1 356

Fond du Lac, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 82 80.6 314

Fort Collins, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 391 120.6 123

Fort Smith, AR-OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 237 84.8 287

Fort Wayne, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 402 94.1 236

Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,421 147.1 59

Gadsden, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 87 84.0 296

Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 557 203.7 18

Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 314 164.6 40

Gettysburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 87 85.5 281

Glens Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 94 73.8 342

Goldsboro, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 122 98.0 217

Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 126 123.7 113

Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 108 72.8 346

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 968 94.2 235

Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 353 127.1 102

Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 266 84.6 290

Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 759 101.7 198

Greenville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 157 89.5 260

Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,081 125.3 109

Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 316 81.8 307

Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 306 117.7 132

Hammond, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 113 88.9 262

Hanford-Corcoran, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 127 84.5 291

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 635 113.2 153

Harrisonburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 80 61.2 371

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,865 235.9 8

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 97 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 160 107.6 168

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 297 81.8 307

Hilo, HI Micropolitan Statistical Area 112 57.7 375

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 246 121.2 122

Holland, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area 81 71.1 348

Homosassa Springs, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 248 177.9 29

Houma-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 253 119.7 126

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 11,652 179.5 27

Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 223 61.4 369

Huntsville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 519 117.7 132

Idaho Falls, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 126 91.1 252

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,277 115.5 141

Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 421 256.1 4

Ithaca, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 104 99.3 209

Jackson, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 189 118.3 130

Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 737 127.6 100

Jackson, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 100 76.8 330

Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,958 208.4 16

Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 141 75.2 336

Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area 81 61.3 370

Janesville-Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 139 86.2 275

Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 343 227.4 9

Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 263 130.8 93

Johnstown, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 95 69.0 353

Jonesboro, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 119 93.9 237

Joplin, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 216 122.6 116

Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area 79 48.4 379

Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 357 106.9 173

Kankakee, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 125 112.2 159

Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,348 161.7 46

Kennewick-Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 230 83.9 297

Killeen-Temple, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 543 127.8 99

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 258 83.7 299

Kingston, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 165 91.4 251

Knoxville, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 726 84.7 288

La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 106 77.5 325

Lafayette, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 367 75.7 333

Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 164 77.5 325

Lake Charles, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 172 84.4 293

Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 193 94.9 231

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,027 161.8 44

Lancaster, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 484 90.8 253

Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 618 131.4 92

Laredo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 272 102.0 196

Las Cruces, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 157 73.5 344

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,768 133.7 87

Lawrence, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 131 112.4 158

Lawton, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 104 79.3 318

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 98 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Lebanon, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 108 79.2 319

Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 87 81.0 312

Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 410 83.0 304

Lima, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 106 100.9 204

Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area 314 98.4 215

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,043 143.0 64

Logan, UT-ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 77 58.6 374

London, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area 87 68.3 355

Longview, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 186 85.5 281

Longview, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 82 80.3 317

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 19,791 149.2 55

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,149 90.5 255

Lubbock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 259 84.7 288

Lumberton, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area 121 89.8 258

Lynchburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 229 88.8 264

Macon, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 283 122.8 115

Madera, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 206 133.3 88

Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 982 154.9 50

Manchester-Nashua, NH Metropolitan Statistical Area 665 164.1 41

Mansfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 140 114.8 145

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 670 80.6 314

Medford, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 249 118.4 129

Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,175 161.9 43

Merced, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 264 99.1 211

Meridian, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area 74 69.7 352

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 17,832 300.7 3

Michigan City-La Porte, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 113 101.4 199

Midland, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 160 99.2 210

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,405 216.6 13

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,988 114.1 149

Missoula, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 116 102.9 190

Mobile, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 478 115.1 142

Modesto, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 683 128.4 98

Monroe, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 159 88.9 262

Monroe, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 202 134.8 82

Montgomery, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 521 139.6 70

Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 126 91.8 247

Morristown, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 73 63.1 365

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 124 103.0 188

Muncie, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 283 241.7 6

Muskegon, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 150 87.0 271

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 358 85.7 280

Napa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 199 140.5 68

Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 828 237.4 7

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,087 116.4 135

New Bern, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 88 69.0 353

New Haven-Milford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,776 206.2 17

New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,391 111.1 161

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 99 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 27,397 136.4 77

Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 195 125.6 108

North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,409 188.2 23

Norwich-New London, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 435 158.9 48

Ocala, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 440 129.7 95

Odessa, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 144 93.6 241

Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 537 84.9 286

Ogdensburg-Massena, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area 59 53.0 378

Oklahoma City, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,864 139.4 72

Olympia-Tumwater, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 362 136.2 78

Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,090 120.5 124

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,439 191.2 22

Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 157 92.6 244

Ottawa-Peru, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area 118 78.2 320

Owensboro, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 70 60.1 372

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,200 141.8 66

Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 935 167.9 36

Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 248 127.2 101

Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 698 147.2 58

Peoria, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 436 114.7 146

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 9,168 151.5 51

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 6,534 145.6 62

Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,380 101.0 203

Pittsfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 106 82.4 305

Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 850 191.3 21

Portland-South Portland, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 759 145.0 63

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,536 150.6 53

Pottsville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area 86 59.0 373

Prescott, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 227 103.7 186

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,003 124.5 111

Provo-Orem, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 428 74.9 340

Pueblo, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 209 129.1 97

Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 302 179.3 28

Racine, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 352 180.4 26

Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,571 126.4 106

Rapid City, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 78 54.3 376

Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 471 113.9 151

Redding, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 166 92.3 246

Reno, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 516 116.2 138

Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,687 133.9 85

Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area 87 83.5 301

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,891 132.6 89

Roanoke, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 297 94.8 233

Rochester, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 259 121.7 120

Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,154 106.5 174

Rockford, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 418 122.1 117

Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 160 107.2 170

Roseburg, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area 91 85.1 284

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 100 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,133 139.6 70

Saginaw, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 231 118.5 128

Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area 104 98.4 215

Salem, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 428 105.9 178

Salinas, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 306 70.9 349

Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area 357 91.6 249

Salt Lake City, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,184 102.7 193

San Angelo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 87 73.6 343

San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,014 129.4 96

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,301 131.8 91

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 7,968 173.4 33

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,693 137.9 74

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 300 107.5 169

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 323 118.8 127

Santa Fe, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 168 113.4 152

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 480 108.9 166

Santa Rosa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 679 135.7 80

Savannah, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 427 114.6 147

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 507 90.6 254

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,514 150.2 54

Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 253 174.8 31

Sheboygan, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 107 92.8 243

Sherman-Denison, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 127 102.8 191

Show Low, AZ Micropolitan Statistical Area 99 91.6 249

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 426 95.7 227

Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 131 102.8 191

Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 147 87.1 270

Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 215 86.6 273

South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 312 97.7 219

Spartanburg, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 248 77.2 327

Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 579 107.0 172

Springfield, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 258 121.9 119

Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 694 110.3 164

Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 732 161.8 44

Springfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 138 101.1 202

St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 145 75.4 334

St. George, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 98 64.5 361

St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 123 96.5 224

St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 19,195 684.0 1

State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 100 63.0 366

Staunton-Waynesboro, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 117 97.7 219

Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,163 162.5 42

Sumter, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 112 103.8 184

Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 513 77.6 324

Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 796 211.8 15

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 6,225 213.5 14

Terre Haute, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 132 77.0 329

Texarkana, TX-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 109 73.0 345

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 101 of 102 Released February 2016
Metropolitan Area Complaints

Complaints Per 

100,000 Population1 Rank

The Villages, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 192 167.9 36

Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 771 126.9 103

Topeka, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 296 126.6 104

Torrington, CT Micropolitan Statistical Area 401 216.8 12

Traverse City, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area 130 88.1 268

Trenton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 519 139.7 69

Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,399 139.3 73

Tullahoma-Manchester, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area 64 63.2 364

Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,637 168.9 35

Tupelo, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area 115 82.3 306

Tuscaloosa, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 221 93.0 242

Twin Falls, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area 73 70.4 351

Tyler, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 178 81.3 311

Urban Honolulu, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area 652 65.7 359

Utica-Rome, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 190 64.1 362

Valdosta, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 169 117.9 131

Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 714 165.6 39

Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 134 85.1 284

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,096 122.1 117

Visalia-Porterville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 424 92.5 245

Waco, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 259 99.5 208

Warner Robins, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 176 93.9 237

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 10,597 175.6 30

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 142 83.5 301

Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 74 62.1 367

Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 106 78.1 321

Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 81 66.8 358

Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 89 77.8 322

Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 112 77.1 328

Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area 93 89.8 258

Wichita Falls, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 114 75.2 336

Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 798 124.5 111

Williamsport, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 101 86.7 272

Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 241 88.4 266

Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 132 98.9 213

Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 753 115.0 143

Wooster, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area 112 96.9 223

Worcester, MA-CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,082 116.3 137

Yakima, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 255 103.0 188

York-Hanover, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 461 104.6 182

Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 681 123.1 114

Yuba City, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 174 102.5 194

Yuma, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 130 64.0 363

Appendix D2: Identity Theft Consumer Complaints 

by Largest Metropolitan Areas (in alphabetical order)1

January 1 – December 31, 2015

1This chart illustrates Metropolitan Areas (Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas) with a population of one hundred thousand or more. Ranking is 

based on the number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 inhabitants for each Metropolitan Area. Metropolitan Areas presented here are those defined by 

the Office of Management and Budget as of February 2013 and per 100,000 unit of population estimates are based on the 2014 U.S. Census population 

estimates (Table GCT-PEPANNRES-Geography-United States: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 - United States --

Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico).

Federal Trade Commission Page 102 of 102 Released February 2016
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