Fraudsters reaping profits on internet

In a report released Tuesday, the FTC said it received 635,173 consumer complaints about fraud and identity theft. Internet-related complaints made up 53 percent of all reported fraud complaints, with monetary losses of more than $256 million.

Identity theft accounted for 39 percent of all fraud complaints filed last year, but the FTC did not specify how much of that was internet-related.

Outside of identity theft, the top fraud complaint was internet auctions.

About 57 percent of fraud complaints cited internet solicitations as the initial form of contact, with email accounting for 35 percent and the web for 22 percent.

www.ftc.gov