Identity theft again tops list of FTC complaints News
Identity theft again tops list of FTC complaints

[JURIST] For the fifth year in a row, identity theft topped the list of most reported frauds, the Federal Trade Commission [official site] reported Tuesday. The number of complaints about identity theft increased 15 percent from the previous year, and reprsesent about 40 percent of all complaints received by the FTC. The increased reports of identity theft seem to contradict an independent report released earlier this week by the Better Business Bureau [official site], which indicated that online identity theft had leveled off. Additionally, reports of internet auction scams have doubled since 2002. Overall, the FTC states that US consumers lost $547 million in various scams last year, with the average loss per incident at $214. MSNBC has more. The full report [PDF] is available from the FTC.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Acts of Union creates Great Britain

On May 1, 1707, the two Acts of Union went into effect, implementing the Treaty of Union and thereby uniting the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Union with Scotland Act was passed by the Parliament of England in 1706, and the Scottish Parliament promulgated the Union with England Act. Learn more about the Acts of Union from the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

First US trade union formed

On May 1, 1794, the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (shoemakers) was organized in Philadelphia to negotiate wages for its members, becoming the first trade union in the United States.

Learn more about the history of the labor movement in the United States, and visit the website of the AFL-CIO, the federation of America's labor unions, representing more than 13 million workers.