
According to new data from the Federal Trade Commission, reports of online shopping topped the list of COVID-19 related complaints from consumers in Michigan and nationally.
Most of these complaints include reports about items not arriving, not arriving when promised, and items that are different than advertised.
From Jan. 1-June 8, Michigan consumers reported losing a total of more than $1.6 million to fraud related to the pandemic, with a median loss of $300. In addition to online shopping, other top COVID-19 related complaints from the state’s consumers include reports about vacation and travel problems as well as about text messages.
“It’s not surprising that we are seeing a lot of complaints nationally and in many states like Michigan about online shopping given that so many consumers are spending more time at home and ordering more goods and services online because of the pandemic,” says Monica Vaca, associate director of the FTC’s Division of Consumer Response and Operations, which compiled the complaint data.
The FTC began releasing COVID-19 compliant data in late March and now is releasing more details regarding the types of complaints it has received from consumers in each state. It created an interactive map of data by state, available here.
As of the morning of June 16, in Michigan, consumers reported a total of 2,048 complaints: 1,241 instances of fraud, 404 incidences of identity theft, 101 Do Not Call reports, and 718 reports of other complaints.
Nationally, consumers reported 91,808 complaints and $59.27 million in total fraud loss, with a median loss of $300. Of the complaints, 47,881 were fraud, 14,079 were identity theft, 3,738 were Do Not Call reports, and 14,079 were other complaints.