Auction fraud tops Internet crime - e-Watch - according to Internet Fraud Complaint Center - Brief Article

DSN Retailing Today, April 22, 2002

RICHMOND, VA. -- Auction fraud topped the list of Internet-related crimes in 2001, according a report by the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC). Of the nearly 50,000 complaints filed to the IFCC last year, auction fraud comprised nearly 43%. The report stems from a partnership between the FBI and National White Collar Crime Center, a non-profit organization funded in part by the Department of Justice.

Other retail-related complaints were: nondelivered merchandise and nonpayment at 22%, and credit/debit card and confidence frauds coming in at 5%. Not surprisingly, the United States had the highest number of Internet crime complaints--94.1%. The state with the most criminals and victims was California, followed by Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York. Other complaints came from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.