New Report Finds Pennsylvania Ranks 16th in ID Theft Complaints for 2014

AARP Fraud Watch Network Offers Tips to Safeguard Against Top 10 Scams

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Mar 11, 2015, 10:23 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the heels of a new report showing Pennsylvania ranks 16th in the nation in the number of reported identity theft complaints, the AARP Fraud Watch Network offers tips to help people protect themselves from the top ten scams reported by state residents in 2014.

For the 15th consecutive year, identity theft was the top complaint in the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, accounting for 13 percent of the total 2.5 million filed complaints. Identity theft complaints in Pennsylvania totaled 10,446 or 82 per 100,000 population. Debt collection and imposter scams are also among the leading scams targeting Pennsylvania residents.

Nationally, people in their 40s and 50s filed the most complaints – 19 percent – while 18 percent of complaints were made by those in both their 20s and 30s. People age 60 and older filed 13 percent of complaints and people age 70 and older only filed 7 percent of complaints.

Social Security, Medicare and other government benefits fraud accounted for more than one in three reports of identity theft, followed by fraudulent use of credit cards (17 percent) and phone or utilities fraud (13 percent). Stealing money from bank accounts accounted for 8 percent of complaints.

"Every two seconds someone's identity is stolen and a con artist takes over their life," said AARP Pennsylvania State President Jim Palmquist. "The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a go-to resource for information about how people can safeguard their identity and learn to spot and avoid scams so they can outsmart con artists before they strike."

A free resource for people of all ages, the AARP Fraud Watch Network offers real-time alerts about the latest scams in each state, a tracking map where people can report on scams so their friends and neighbors know what to watch out for and a guide to outsmarting con artists.

In addition to identity theft, the FTC report shows the top scams for Pennsylvania include:

Debt Collection (8,348 complaints)
Impostor Scams (8,173)
Telephone and Mobile Services (5,540)
Banks and Lenders (4,727)
Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries (3,422)
Auto-Related Complaints (2,695)
Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales (2,262)
Television and Electronic Media (1,689)
Internet Services (1,552)
Health Care (1,310)

The agency's Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book is based on consumer complaints filed with the FTC, and is available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies across the country and abroad to help identify fraud trends, research cases, identify victims and track possible targets.

AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. Follow AARP Pennsylvania on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AARPPA and on Twitter @AARPPA.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

CONTACT: Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania
(717) 237-6481 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania