Consumer frauds pose a threat to consumers and the economy. Even the most wary and sophisticated consumers may fall victim to fraudulent offers–in the mail, in the media, and on the Internet. To learn more about the extent of consumer fraud and to enhance our understanding of its victims, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) last year commissioned a survey of 2,500 randomly-chosen adults about their consumer experiences during the previous year.

This survey will help the FTC better serve fraud victims through law enforcement and education. The survey was designed, in part, to assist the agency in determining whether information in the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database of fraud complaints is representative of consumers’ actual experiences with fraud in the marketplace. The survey provides the agency with a broader snapshot of fraud in America which, in addition to helping target law enforcement actions, will allow the FTC to target education campaigns more precisely towards particular consumer groups who are at risk of falling victim to fraud but who may not complain to the FTC about their experiences.