Identity Theft Number 1 Consumer Complaint

The Federal Trade Commission released a report on Wednesday listing the top complaints filed by consumers in 2009.  Identity theft remains at the top.  Of the 1.3 million complaints the agency received last year, 21 percent were for identity theft.

The report breaks out complaint data on a state-by-state basis and also contains data about the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest per capita incidence of fraud and other complaints. In addition, the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest incidence of identity theft are noted.

Credit card fraud was the top complaint when it comes to identity theft, followed by fraud related to government benefits, utilities, phones and loans.

The FTC did not verify the complaints lodged with it. It said 72 percent of those reporting identity theft, also notified a police department