The Federal Trade Commission has released its list of top consumer complaints received by the agency in 2011. For the 12th year in a row, identity theft complaints topped the list. Of more than 1.8 million complaints filed in 2011, 279,156 or 15 percent, were identity theft complaints. Nearly 25 percent of the identity theft complaints related to tax- or wage-related fraud.
The next nine complaint categories are:
NumberPercent
|
Debt Collection Complaints |
180,928 |
10 percent |
|
Prizes, Sweepstakes, and Lotteries |
100,208 |
6 percent |
|
Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales |
98,306 |
5 percent |
|
Banks and Lenders |
89,341 |
5 percent |
|
Internet Services |
81,805 |
5 percent |
|
Auto Related Complaints |
77,435 |
4 percent |
|
Imposter Scams |
73,281 |
4 percent |
|
Telephone and Mobile Services |
70,024 |
4 percent |
|
Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection/Repair |
47,414 |
3 percent |
TAKE AWAY: Marketers who offer goods and services in the top categories should be sure to review their marketing and compliance processes as such categories may be subject to increased government scrutiny.
PartnerMarketers, advertisers, agencies and suppliers, among others, regularly seek Andy’s counsel regarding legal aspects of their advertising and promotional marketing businesses. He’s pragmatic and always looks for ...