Weight loss scams top U.S. fraud in 2005 |
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Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:09
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WASHINGTON (AP) - More Americans recently fell victim to bogus weight loss products than any other form of fraud, according to government officials.About 30 million Americans, or roughly 13 percent of adults, fell for some type of scam in 2005, the Federal Trade Commission reported in a survey Monday. Nearly one-sixth of those people, or 4.8 million, were duped into buying weight loss products that didn't actually work.FTC surveyed more than 3,800 adults for the survey, which followed a similar undertaking in 2003.Fake offers from foreign lotteries and buyers clubs tied for second place, with 3.2 million people reportedly falling for each type of scam. Victims typically gave out personal and financial information to collect their 'winnings' from people posing as lottery officials. In buyers clubs scams, consumers were billed for memberships they never agreed to purchase.Minority groups were more likely to fall victim to fraud, with 20 percent of African Americans and 18 percent of Hispanics reportedly being victims. Twelve percent of non-Hispanic whites reported being victims.FTC also said younger consumers, people without a college degree and those with high levels of debt were more likely to experience fraud.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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