P&A Providers & Administrators
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Identity Theft Tops FTC's Complaint List for 2012

February 26, 2013
2 min to read


Washington, D.C. — Last year, identity theft once again topped the Federal Trade Commission’s list of top consumer complaints, which the agency issued this week. The FTC also reported that 2012 marked the first year it received more than two million complaints overall, with 18 percent of them related to identify theft.


Of the 369,132 identity theft-related complaints received last year, more than 43 percent were related to tax- or wage-related fraud, according to the FTC’s report, which provides national and state-by-state data. The report also lists the metropolitan areas that generated the most complaints, including the Top 50 metropolitan areas for both fraud and identity theft complaints.

Ad Loading...


The following are the nine other complaint categories making up the Top 10 complaints of 2012:



Number

Percent

Debt collection

199,721

10 percent

Banks and Lenders

132,340

6 percent

Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales

115,184

6 percent

Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries

98,479

5 percent

Impostor Scams

82,896

4 percent

Internet Services

81,438

4 percent

Auto-Related Complaints

78,062

4 percent

Telephone and Mobile Services

76,783

4 percent

Credit Cards

51,550

3 percent


A complete list of all complaint categories is available on page six of the report.


The FTC enters complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database that is available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies across the country. Agencies use the data to research cases, identify victims and track possible targets.


Other federal and state law enforcement agencies contribute to Consumer Sentinel, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the offices of 14 state attorneys general. Private-sector organizations contributing data include all Better Business Bureaus in the U.S. and Canada, PrivacyStar, Publishers Clearing House and others.


More Industry

Orange electric vehicle charging station.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 20, 2026

Charger Network Growth Slows

Despite a projected increase in public EV chargers in 2026, charging infrastructure remains a top concern for consumers as the gap between the most and least EV-friendly places remains substantial.

Read More →
Fan of $100 bills atop a white envelope
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 13, 2026

Lenders, Consumers Take on More Auto Loan Risk

September records loosened credit access the most in over a decade as buyers took advantage of the conditions to afford trading, though loan applications fell.

Read More →
Red type R Honda civic parked on road.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 13, 2026

Next-Gen Hybrids in Sight

Dealerships can expect to see revamped hybrids from Honda next year as the company rolls out a new system and model lineup.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Dodge ram emblem on orange vehicle exterior
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•October 6, 2026

Gem State Stores Change Hands

A larger auto group founded in the industry’s early years sold two franchises to a neighbor group that's on a growth spurt.

Read More →
Graphic of model car driving on fake road.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•October 6, 2026

Charging In Motion

Honda has been researching wireless in-motion charging for electric vehicles since 2025, and new technology developments have put it a step closer to a final product.

Read More →
front grill of a Ford truck with blue Ford emblem
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 30, 2026

Twin Cities Stores Sell

Minnesota-based Walser Automotive Group made what it called the most significant acquisition in its history with a three-rooftop deal in Minneapolis.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Diesel engine on a production line in a factory
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 29, 2026

U.S. Auto Sales Still Below Prepandemic Levels

Mobility Global industry observers don’t expect the market to return to the higher volumes that became routine before Covid but to stay well below its potential.

Read More →
Front of red tesla car.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 22, 2026

The Powertrain Shift

Electric-vehicle owners are backpedaling, according to new data, with product availability driving many to shift back to gas-powered engines.

Read More →
White BMW SUV driving on road.
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 15, 2026

Achromatic Autos

The shades that dominate the U.S. car market don’t call attention to themselves, though grayscale may have plateaued after a 30-year upswing, research shows.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Line of eclipse SUVs in parking lot.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 15, 2026

Used-Vehicle Affordability Worsens

Listing prices in August defied seasonal trends, rising above $27,000 for the second time this year.

Read More →