FTC annual consumer complaints report finds increase in online identify theft

The Federal Trade Commission says identity theft from online shopping jumped 43 percent last year, while overall consumer complaints to the commission dropped, according to the FTC's latest annual report.

“The data book includes complaints from 2.68 million consumers, a decrease from 2016 when 2.98 million consumers submitted reports about fraud, identity theft and other types of consumer concerns,” says the FTC in its announcement of the report on Thursday.

“Identity theft was the second biggest category, making up...