Identity theft, credit card fraud and even online dating fraud are all ways Brooklyn residents may be scammed. Local agencies are educating the borough on how to avoid being conned in 2007.

Identity theft topped the Federal Trade Commission?s (FTC) annual report of consumer complaints for the seventh year in a row. FTC officials say identity theft is something even the most careful can fall victim to.

?You?re only as safe as your weakest link and the weakest link can be throwing something out in the trash without shredding it,? said Thomas Cohn, of the FTC.

Another complaint about business categories was consumer electronics. Some online shoppers say their products were delivered damaged or not delivered at all. The Better Business Bureau says bargain seekers should check a company?s record before making a purchase.

Related Information:RomanceScams.orgFederal Trade CommissionBetter Business Bureau Department of Consumer AffairsNew York State Consumer Protection Board