Florida is the most ‘dangerous’ state, with 178 identity theft complaints per 100,000 population; and Miami the most dangerous Metropolitan Area. North and South Dakota appear more law-abiding with just 23 and 25 complaints per 100,000 population. This is a small fragment of the data that can be found in the FTC’s newly published Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for January - December 2011.
The FTC describes Consumer Sentinel as ‘a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the United States and abroad. Enforcers search the database to research cases, track targets, and identify victims.’ It is, says David Vladeck, director of the agency's Bureau of Consumer Protection, “an incredibly powerful tool for law enforcers who are working to protect consumers and go after the bad guys. It's used by agencies across the country and around the world to enhance their enforcement efforts.”
Also in the top ten complaint categories are prizes/lotteries, shop-at-home, internet services, imposter scams, telephone and mobile services and advance fee scams; all indicating the extent to which the internet has become an integral part of our daily lives. The second and fifth rating categories are related to debt collection and banks and are probably more indicative of the state of the economy than anything else.
Law enforcement agencies, the US Postal Inspection Service, offices of numerous Attorneys General, US and Canadian members of the Better Business Bureau, and Western Union and Moneygram are among the groups that contribute complaints to the Sentinel Network. The result, says Richard Cordray, Director of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “is a treasure trove of information for law enforcers. We plan to contribute consumer complaints we receive at the CFPB to the Network and urge other state and local law enforcers to join the Network, too."