January-December 2001 Telemarketing Fraud Statistics

Telemarketing Fraud Statistics

Total Loss Overall: $3,827,880

Average Loss: $1,174

2000 Top 10 Frauds		2001 Top 10 Frauds
Prizes/Sweepstakes	18%	Work-At-Home	20%
Magazine Sales	14%	Prizes/Sweepstakes	19%
Credit Card Sales	13%	Credit Card Issuing	17%
Work-At-Home	10%	Advance Fee Loans	9%
Advance Fee Loans	7%	Magazines	7%
Telephone Slamming	7%	Telephone Slamming	4%
Credit Card Loss Protection	4%	Buyers Clubs	3%
Buyers Clubs	3%	Credit Card Loss Protection	2%
Telephone Cramming	2%	Nigerian Money Offers	2%
Travel/Vacations	2%	Telephone Pay-Per-Call Services	2%

The top ten frauds of 2001 make up 85 percent of all telemarketing complaints taken at the Fraud Center.

Payment Methods Overall
Bank Debit	23%
Credit Card	21%
Check	18%
Money Order	14%
Wire	9%
Cash	6%
Debit Card	5%
Telephone Bill	2%
Cashiers Check	2%

Initial Contact Overall
Phone	44%
Mail	37%
Print	15%
Fax	2%
In-person	1%
TV/Radio	1%

Ages of Victims Overall
Under 20	1%
20-29	19%
30-39	19%
40-49	22%
50-59	13%
60-69	10%
70-79	10%
80+	6%

Locations of Companies

Canada	13%
Outside Canada/ U.S.	5%
U.S.	82%

Top Five U.S. Company Locations

FL	12%
CA	12%
NY	10%
TX	6%
IL	4%

Top Five Victim Locations

FL	15%
CA	11%
NY	6%
TX	5%
PA	4%

Method of Contact, Percentage by Category

Telemarketing Fraud	Method of Contact
Work-at-Home	Phone	22%
	Mail	42%
	In person	1%
	Print	35%
	TV	0%
	Fax	0%

Prizes/Sweepstakes	Phone	65%
	Mail	34%
	In person	.5%
	Print	.5%
	TV	0%
	Fax	0%

Credit Card Issuing	Phone	60%
	Mail	36%
	In person	.5%
	Print	3%
	TV	.5%
	Fax	0%

Advance Fee Loans	Phone	32%
	Mail	17%
	In person	1%
	Print	49%
	TV	0%
	Fax	1%

Magazine Sales	Phone	55%
	Mail	42%
	In person	3%
	Print	1%
	TV	0%
	Fax	0%

Telephone Slamming	Phone	27%
	Mail	72%
	In person	0%
	Print	1%
	TV	0%
	Fax	0%

Buyers Clubs	Phone	30%
	Mail	65%
	In person	3%
	Print	2%
	TV	0%
	Fax	0%

Credit Card Loss Protection	Phone	88%
	Mail	10%
	In person	0%
	Print	1%
	TV	1%
	Fax	0%

Nigerian Money Offers	Phone	2%
	Mail	26%
	In person	0%
	Print	0%
	TV	0%
	Fax	72%

Telephone Pay-Per-Call Services	Phone	34%
	Mail	59%
	In person	0%
	Print	3%
	TV	4%
	Fax	0%

For more information, write or call or email the National Consumers League at 1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20006, (202) 835-3323, info@nclnet.org.