The 2002 annual report offers a recap of Internet crime hot spots by state, statistical information and victim demographic data gleaned through complaints IFCC received and referred through its online Web portal (www.ifccfbi.gov) from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002. In 2002, complaints filed with IFCC totaled 75,063.
"IFCC helps victims by putting fraud information into the hands of law enforcement and then fosters interagency cooperation, so these complaints are responded to quickly," said Assistant Director Jana Monroe of the FBI's Cyber Division.
For the third straight year, Internet auction fraud was the most reported offense, comprising 46 percent of referred complaints. Nondelivery of merchandise and nonpayment accounted for 31 percent of complaints, and credit/debit card fraud made up nearly 12 percent of complaints. Among victims who reported a dollar loss, the highest median dollar losses were found among Nigerian letter fraud ($3,864), identity theft ($2,000), and check fraud ($1,100).
California, New York, Florida, Texas and Illinois were the top five states for victims of Internet crime. In cases where the perpetrator has been identified, nearly four in five were male, and over half resided in the states of California, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
