Authors: National Consumers League
Year: 2011
Relevance:While based exclusively on self-reported consumer complaints, the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center’s annual report provides a valuable perspective on trends in frauds and scams.
Summary: Scams which received the most number of consumer complaints were:
- 1. Prizes/Sweepstakes/Free Gifts 26.98%
2. Fake Check Scams 26.65%
3. Internet: Gen Merchandise 24.51%
4. Phishing/Spoofing 8.17%
5. Advance Fee Loans, Credit Arrangers 3.09%
6. Scholarships/Grants 1.51%
7. Friendship & Sweetheart Swindles 1.40%
8. Nigerian Money Offers (not prizes) 1.14%
9. Family/ Friend Imposter 1.06%
10. Internet: Auctions 0.92%
The majority of scams were implemented via the web (34.9%) or telephone (29.2%), followed by email (20.4%) and postal mail (12.2%).
Payment was most often sent via wire transfer (64.0%), followed by credit card (14.9%) and bank account debit (7.3%).
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