The Federal Trade Commission released in February a report on the top consumer complaints for 2009.

The report, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for January-December 2009, shows identity theft as the No. 1 consumer complaint category for the 10th year in a row, accounting for 21 percent of the more than 1.3 million complaints received.

The data come from the Consumer Sentinel database, which includes consumer complaints filed with the FTC and law enforcement and consumer protection agencies.

The most common type of identity theft reported involved credit card fraud.

After identity theft, the top complaint categories are third-party and creditor debt collection (9 percent); internet services (6 percent); shop-at-home and catalog sales (6 percent); foreign money offers and counterfeit check scams (5 percent); internet auction (4 percent); credit cards (3 percent); prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries (3 percent); and advance-fee loans and credit protection/repair (3 percent).

Twenty-one other complaint categories each garner 2 percent or less of the number of complaints. A sample of these categories include credit bureaus (information furnishers and report users); television and electronic media; banks and lenders; telecom equipment/mobile services; computer equipment and software; and business opportunities, employment agencies and work-at-home plans.

Based on complaints per 100,000 population, Illinois ranks No. 10 (93.8) for reported identity theft complaints, with Indiana holding the No. 30 spot (64.8).

Florida has the highest per capita rate of reported identity theft complaints, with Arizona and Texas next in line. South Dakota has the lowest per capita rate.

The full report is available at http://www.ftc.gov/sentinel. Click "Reports."

Opinions are solely the writer's. Joseph Pellicciotti is a lawyer, professor and vice chancellor at Indiana University Northwest.