The FTC today released its top consumer fraud complaints of 2007. Based on complaints filed by consumers, identity theft is the number one complaint by a very wide margin, taking 32% of all complaints. The next closest complaint category was Shop-at-Home/Catalog Sales, which only took 8% of the complaints. Here’s how the bastards break down:

Rank | Category | Complaints | %

20 Charitable Solicitations | 1,843 | <1
19 Multi-Level Mktg./Pyramids/Chain Letters | 3,092 | <1
18 Debt Management/Credit Counseling | 3,442 | <1
17 Employ. Agencies/Job Counsel/Overseas Work | 5,932 | 1
16 Telephone Services | 8,155 | 1
15 Office Supplies and Services | 9,211 | 1
14 Real Estate (Not Timeshares) | 9,475 | 1
13 Business Opportunities and Work-at-Home Plans | 11,362 | 1
12 Magazines and Buyers Clubs | 12,970 | 2
11 Investments | 13,705 | 2
10 Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection/Repair | 14,342 | 2
9 Travel, Vacations, and Timeshares | 14,903 | 2
8 Health Care Claims |16,097 | 2
7 Internet Auctions | 24,376 | 3
6 Computer Equipment and Software | 27,036 | 3
5 Prizes/Sweepstakes and Lotteries | 32,162 | 4
4 Foreign Money Offers | 32,868 | 4
3 Internet Services | 42,266 | 5
2 Shop-at-Home/Catalog Sales | 62,811 | 8
1 Identity Theft | 258,427 | 32

FTC Releases List of Top Consumer Fraud Complaints in 2007 [FTC via Elliot.org]
(Photo: Getty)

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