Yesterday, the Consumer Sentinel Network, which compiles data received from many federal agencies that deal with scams and other fraud released its annual report which again showed the number one scam in America continues to be identity theft.  Also high on the list of consumer complaints were sweepstake and lottery scams.  According to the Consumer Sentinel Network, Americans lost more than 1.5 billion dollars to scams and these figures actually less than the true figures because they only reflect the data received by the various federal agencies reporting tot he Consumer Sentinel Network.  Many scams go unreported.  The most common identity theft scams involved government documents and benefits, credit card fraud, phone or utility fraud and bank fraud.

TIP

Don’t be a victim.  Protect yourself from the various ways that clever identity thieves steal your identity.  Check out the list of common identity theft scams on this website for tips as to how to protect yourself and for more detailed information, get a copy of “50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit” and “The Truth About Avoiding Scams.”