2004

Category % of Complaints Average Loss

Auctions 51% $765
General Merchandise 20% $846
Nigerian Money Order 8% $2,649
Phishing 5% $182
Information/Adult Services 3% $241
Fake Checks 3% $5,201
Lotteries/Lottery Club 3% $2,225
Computer Equipment/Soft. 1% $1,401
Fake Escrow Services 1% $2,585
Internet Access Services 1% $1,187

Note: Fake Checks or wire Transfers rank the highest in loss

Auctions * 42% $1,155
Compliant: Goods never delivered or misrepresented
General Merchandise 30% $2,528
Complaint:Sales not through auctions, goods never delivered or misrepresented
Nigerian Money Offers 8% $6,937
Complaint: False promises of riches if consumers pay to transfer money to their bank accounts
Fake Checks 6% $4,361
Complaint: Consumers paid with phony checks for work or items sold, instructed to wire money back
Lotteries/Lottery Clubs 4% $2,919
Complaint: Requests for payment to claim lottery winnings or get help to win, often foreign lotteries
Phishing 2% $612
Complaint: Emails pretending to be from well-known source asking to confirm personal information
Advance Fee Loans 1% $1,426
Complaint: False promises of personal or business loans, even if credit is bad, for a fee paid upfront
Information/Adult Services 1% $504
Complaint: Cost and terms of services not disclosed or misrepresented
Work-at-Home Plans 1% $1,785
Complaint: Kits sold on false promises of big profits from working at home
Internet Access Services 1% $1,262
Complaint: Cost of Internet access and other services misrepresented or services never provided

Victims Location*
1. Hawaii
2. North Dakota
3. Nevada
4. New Hampshire
5. District of Columbia
*relative to state population


Crooks Location % of Complaints

Countries Outside
U.S./Canada 37%
California 9%
New York 7%
Florida 6%
Texas 4%
Tie: Canada and Illinois 3%

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