Article: Identity theft still No. 1 consumer fraud complaint of Californians.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Identity theft remains the top consumer fraud complaint of Californians, followed by sophisticated Internet schemes that few people could have imagined a decade ago.

Also drawing frequent consumer anger are phony prizes, phone company fraud, auto repair problems, unethical immigration consultants and dietary and health supplements that don't do what they claim.

"The bottom line is, more often than not, the cruise ship prize is more like a tugboat, you only lose weight through dieting and exercise, and pyramid money-making schemes always collapse," said state Sen. Jackie Speier.

Speier, who chairs the Senate Select ...

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