Losses in Internet Scams Hit New High

[April 04, 2008]  CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) --  A government report says money lost in Internet crimes hit a new high last year, approaching about $240 million.

The FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center say the number of Internet scams dropped slightly from previous years, but the total lost jumped by $40 million.

The report says more men than women filed complaints saying they were scammed. The average loss for men was $765 and for women, $552.

The report, issued Thursday, also says the amounts lost increased with age. Victims in their 20s lost $385 on average, while people over 40 reported losing on average $750 to $760 per scam.

[Associated Press; By CHRISTINE SIMMONS]

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