Amount of reported Internet fraud reached record high in 2007

The amount of fraud reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center increased $40 million last year, according to a report issued by the center.

Nearly 207,000 complaints were made last year to the center, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National White Collar Crime Center and Bureau of Justice Assistance, a news release on the report says.

That number was down slightly from 2006, the release says, but the total amount of fraud soared to the highest level yet at $240 million.

More than 90,000 of the complaints received last year were referred to law enforcement across the country, the release says.

The center received the most complaints for Internet auction fraud, the release says. Others reported included purchases made, but not received; credit and debit card fraud; computer intrusions; spam and child pornography.

The center also says the top Internet scams of 2007 involved pet purchases, secret shopper jobs, fund transfers, online romance fraud, and adoption and charity fraud.

To read the center’s report, go to www.ic3.gov/media/annualreports.aspx. To make a complaint online, go to www.ic3.gov