ID theft tops FTC complaints again.

Identity theft has topped the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) list of consumer complaints for the fourth year in a row.

Reports of Internet-related fraud accounted for 55 percent of the consumer fraud complaints filed in 2003, up from 45 percent in 2002. According to FTC data, Internet fraud cost American consumers almost $200 million in 2003, and victims lost $195 on average. The total loss to fraud was more than $437 million, about $228 per victim. Online auctions produce the largest number of Internet-related fraud complaints, according to the FTC.

The agency said it received 516,740 complaints in 2003, up from 404,000 in 2002, and about 214,905 (42 percent) were cases of identity theft. This was an increase from 161,836 complaints reported in 2002.

President Bush signed legislation in December giving consumers new identity theft protections, including free credit reports once a year and a national hotline (877.IDTHEFT) by which to report identity theft. Under the legislation, businesses must black out Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and debit card numbers on receipts, and medical information must be coded on credit reports. Credit bureaus are also required to share consumer information regarding identity theft with each other.