The next five in the list of most numerous complaints included provision of services, home solicitations, landlord/tenant disputes, Internet sales and disputes over the sale of household goods.
The agencies also were asked what their worst complaints were, which was a subjective judgment that could be based on the number of complaints, the dollar amounts involved, the vulnerability of the victim, or simply the outrageousness of the situation, the consumer advocates said.
Topping the list were issues involving foreclosures followed by problems with home repairs following a disaster. Sweepstakes scams and other frauds that target the elderly, business opportunities and work-at-home offers, and violations of do-not-call and other telemarketing laws were also deemed particularly outrageous.
In one of the newer scams, a company was offering payday loans that, in reality, were lines of credit for an online shopping mall. Another innovative fraudster posted erroneous information about traffic violations and offered to remove the information for a fee. Individuals who are part of a sovereign citizenship movement where members claim not to be subject to the laws and courts of the United States marketed some mortgage assistance scams.
The two consumer agencies producing the report developed a laundry list of state and federal laws that should be enacted in order to better protect consumers. They advocate such things as requiring contracts to be shorter and more understandable, requiring Internet businesses to provide a telephone number and personnel staffing the phones to answer consumer complaints, and requiring a cancellation time for large purchases.
Consumers can also help protect themselves, the agencies said. Such things as getting a second opinion on a used car purchase, standing up for your right to question a bill, or reporting problems to the local or state consumer protection agency can help.