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pdfFTC Fraud Awareness Research
“Every Community” Survey
DRAFT
August 2014
METHODOLOGY: National online survey of 4,810 people.
A.
[Introduction/Screening]
Be assured that all of your answers will be completely ANONYMOUS and
CONFIDENTIAL. Therefore, please try to answer these questions as openly and
honestly as possible.
A1. What is your gender?
1. Male
2. Female
A2. What is your age? [DROP DOWN MENU; PUNCH MATCHES AGE]
1. _______________
A3. Are you Hispanic or Latino?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know/Prefer not to say
A4. Which of the following best describes your race? [ACCEPT MULTIPLE]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Black or African-American
White or Caucasian
Asian/Pacific Islander
Native American
Other ______________________
Prefer not to say
A5. What is your household’s approximate annual income, including wages, tips,
investment income, public assistance, income from retirement plans, etc.? Would
you say it is …
1. Less than $15,000
2. At least $15,000 but less than $25,000
3. At least $25,000 but less than $40,000
4. At least $40,000 but less than $50,000
5. At least $50,000 but less than $75,000
6. At least $75,000 but less than $100,000
7. At least $100,000 but less than $150,000
8. $150,000 or more
1
9. Don’t know
10. Prefer not to say
A6. Including yourself, how many people are in your household?
1. 1 (only yourself)
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6 or more
7. Prefer not to say
A7. Have you ever been a member of the U.S. Armed Services, either in the active or
reserve component?
1. Currently a member of the U.S. Armed Services
2. Previously a member of the U.S. Armed Services
3. Never a member of the U.S. Armed Services
4. Prefer not to say
A8. Which of the following best describes your generational status in the United States:
1. First generation (you were born outside of the United States, and not a U.S.
citizen at birth)
2. Second generation (you were born in the U.S. or a U.S. citizen from birth,
with at least one parent that is first generation)
3. Third generation or higher (you were born in the U.S. or a U.S. citizen from
birth and both parents are also U.S. citizens from birth)
A9. From the following list of organizations, please select the ones you have heard of.
(Select all that apply)
1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
2. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
3. Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB)
4. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
5. Consumer Federation of America (CFA)
6. Consumer Union
7. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
8. Better Business Bureau (BBB)
9. Consumer Federation of America
10. National Consumer Agency
11. Federal Bureau of Investigations
B.
Fraud Exposure Self-assessment
In this survey we are going to ask you several questions concerning frauds and
scams. By fraud, we mean any instance in which a person (or an organization)
intentionally deceives a consumer for financial gain.
2
B1. To the best of your knowledge, have you personally been a victim of a fraud or
scam?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know/prefer not to say
B2. Have any of your family members or friends ever been victim of a fraud or scam?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know/not sure
B3. Overall, how concerned are you that you personally could fall victim to a fraud or
scam?
Not at all
Concerned
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Extremely
Concerned
10
B4. Overall, how concerned are you that a family member or friends could fall victim to
a fraud or scam?
Not at all
Concerned
1
2
C.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Extremely
Concerned
10
Specific Frauds Self-Assessment
C1. In this section we are going to give you a description of 16 different types of fraud.
For each type of fraud please answer the questions that follow. [Each fraud
presented with following definition on screen] [RANDOMIZE]
1. You paid someone a fee to help change the terms of your mortgage or to
prevent foreclosure on your home, but you did not get the help that was
promised.
2. You paid someone who promised to help you make money working from
home, start your own business, or coach you on launching a new career
online, but you got far less than what you expected and paid.
3. You took out a payday loan and found out later that you also had to pay back
fees or costs no one had mentioned.
4. You were billed for a product, service, or club membership that you never
agreed to pay for.
5. You paid money to someone who was harassing you with calls or letters about
a debt you didn’t owe, or a debt you already paid.
6. You paid someone a fee to help manage or pay off your debt, but you did not
get the services they promised.
3
7. When purchasing a vehicle you were misled about the final price. Warranties
or other add-ons were included in the price you paid for a vehicle without
your knowledge or consent.
8. You were informed you won a prize or lottery but you never got your
winnings, even after you paid the taxes or fees you were told to pay.
9. You paid someone who promised to get your immigration status changed, but
you later learned he was not a lawyer, did not submit your paperwork, or do
what he promised.
10. You bought a product that promised to treat or cure medical conditions like
cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or hair loss. The results did not deliver as
promised.
11. You were promised a job if you first paid a fee or if you paid for training, but
you never got the job.
12. You bought a product to lose weight, or to lose weight without diet and
exercise, but the results did not deliver as promised.
13. You paid someone who promised to remove timely, negative, and accurate
information from your credit report, or who promised to keep bad information
off your credit report.
14. You paid a fee to someone who promised to get you a loan or credit card, but
you never got it.
15. You signed up to sell products, but the only way you made money was by
recruiting other people to sell the products, not by actually selling the
products.
16. You sent money to someone who said they were a friend or relative in need,
or from the government – but it turned out they lied.
C1a. Have you ever heard of this type of fraud?
1. Yes
2. No
C1b. Have you personally ever, to your knowledge, been a victim of this type of fraud?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know/not sure
C1c. How concerned are you that this type of fraud could happen to you?
Not at all
Concerned
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Extremely
Concerned
10
C1d. To your knowledge, has a family member or friend ever been victim of this type of
fraud?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know/not sure
4
C1e. How concerned are you that this type of fraud could happen to a family member or
friend?
Not at all
Concerned
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Extremely
Concerned
10
C2. Have you personally ever, to your knowledge, been a victim of a fraud or scam not
mentioned previously?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know/not sure
C2a. [If C2=1; “Yes”] Please briefly describe that fraud or scam.
____________________________________
C2b. To your knowledge, has a family member or friend ever been victim of a fraud or
scam not mentioned previously?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know/not sure
C2c. [If C2c=1; “Yes”] Please briefly describe that fraud or scam.
____________________________________
C3. [Non-Victim: IF All C1b=2; “No” and C2=2 or 3; “No or DK”] If you ever
suspected that you were a victim of a fraud or scam, would you report the incident
to the authorities?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
C4. [IF C3= 1;“Yes”] To whom would you report it? (Select all that apply)
[RANDOMIZE LIST]
1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
3. AARP
4. Better Business Bureau (BBB)
5. State attorney general
6. Local police department
7. Federal Bureau of Investigation
8. An attorney
9. My bank or credit card company
10. Your local church, place of worship
11. Social organization
12. Local media (newspaper, television station)
5
13. Other (please specify) __________________ [OPEN END]
14. Don’t know/
[UNIQUE]
C5. [IF C3= 2; “No”] Which of the following best describes why you would not report
the incident? (Select all that apply) [RANDOMIZE LIST]
1. Wouldn’t know where to turn
2. Wouldn’t have made a difference
3. Probably would not have time
4. Would want to put it behind me
5. Would be too embarrassed
6. Afraid to contact the authorities
7. Other ______________
8. Don’t know
[UNIQUE]
D.
At-Risk Communities/Hierarchy of Vulnerability
D2. Of the following communities listed, which do you feel are most at-risk when it
comes to frauds and scams? (Select all that apply)
1. Immigrants or first-generation Americans
2. Hispanic/Latino adults
3. African-American adults
4. Asian-American adults
5. American Indian/Native-Americans
6. Seniors (people age 65 or older)
7. Low-income adults
8. Active Military
9. Military Veterans
10. College students
11. Small-business owners
12. Middle class/middle income adults
13. High-income adults
14. None of the above
D3. Of the following communities listed, which would most benefit from having
information about frauds and scams tailored specifically to that community? (Select
all that apply)
1. Immigrants or first-generation Americans
2. Hispanic/Latino adults
3. African-American adults
4. Asian-American adults
5. American Indian/Native-Americans
6. Seniors (people age 65 or older)
7. Low-income adults
8. Active Military
9. Military Veterans
10. College students
6
11. Small-business owners
12. Middle class/middle income adults
13. High-income adults
14. None of the above
D4. Of the following communities listed, please tell if you feel that community is more
at-risk of being defrauded from someone inside that community or more at-risk of
being defrauded from someone outside that community.
[Randomize]
Immigrants or firstgeneration Americans
Hispanic/Latino adults
African-American adults
Asian-American adults
American Indian/NativeAmericans
Seniors (people age 65 or
older)
Low-income adults
Active Military
Military Veterans
College students
Small-business owners
Middle class/middle
income adults
High-income adults
Inside the
Community
1
Outside the
Community
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
D5. How concerned are you that you could be victimized in a scam in the following
ways:
Not at all
Concerned
1
Through a
friend or family
member
Through a
1
social setting
such as a place
of worship or
school
Through a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Extremely
Concerned
10
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
7
professional
contact
From an
unsolicited
telephone call
From an
unsolicited
email
From an
unsolicited text
message
From an
Internet
advertisement
(including
Craigslist)
Though a social
networking
website
(Facebook,
LinkedIn,
Twitter,
Google+)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
D6. How concerned are you that a family member or a friend could be victimized in a
scam in the following ways:
Through a
friend or family
member
Through a
social setting
such as a place
of worship or
school
Through a
professional
contact
From an
unsolicited
telephone call
From an
unsolicited
Not at all
Concerned
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Extremely
Concerned
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
8
email
From an
1
unsolicited text
message
From an
1
Internet
advertisement
(including
Craigslist)
Though a social 1
networking
website
(Facebook,
LinkedIn,
Twitter,
Google+)
E.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Fraud Attitudes
E2. In your opinion, how important is it that people are made more aware of the dangers
of frauds and scams?
1. Not at all important
2. Somewhat important
3. Important
4. Very Important
5. Critical
E3. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “People like me
are often a target for frauds and scams.”
1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree
E4. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “People like me
can protect themselves against frauds and scams if they have the right information.”
1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree
E5. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “Fraud is more
common now than it was in the past.”
1. Completely disagree
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Somewhat disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat agree
Completely agree
E6. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “There are more
kinds of fraud now than ever before.”
1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree
E7. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “It is very hard
to figure out what is a fraud or what is not a fraud.”
1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree
E8. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “I’ve probably
been defrauded without knowing it.”
1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree
E9. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “It is an
important function of government to protect consumers from fraud.”
1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree
E10. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “I would like to
have more information on how to protect myself from fraud.”
1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree
10
F.
Information Sources
F2.
For each of the following organizations, please describe how trustworthy the
organization is as a resource for helping consumers avoid frauds and scams.
[DISPLAY IF Not at all
Extremely
AWARE IN
Trustworthy
Trustworthy
F1]
Federal Trade
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9
10
Commission
(FTC)
Federal
Communications
Commission
(FCC)
Consumer
Financial
Protection
Bureau (CFPB)
Better Business
Bureau (BBB)
Consumer
Federation of
America
Federal Bureau of
Investigations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
F3. Please state how much you agree or disagree with the following?
I like to seek out
information online
I like to seek out
information from
friends and family
I like to get information
in group meetings
I like the information I
receive to be
specifically tailored my
particular community
I like to get my
information from
printed material such as
books, magazines,
newspapers, and
informational
pamphlets
Strongly
Disagree
1
1
Neither
Agree
nor
Disagree Disagree
2
3
2
3
Agree
4
4
Strongly
Agree
Don’t
5
Know
5
98
Prefer
not to
Say
99
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
11
I seek out information
from multiple sources
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
I generally use a single
trusted source for
information
I like to have
information provided in
a language other than
English
I like to get my
information from
television
I like to get my
information from radio
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
1
2
3
4
5
98
99
F4. Who do you rely on to get information on frauds and scams?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Myself
My parents
My children
Another family member
Friends
Religious leader
Lawyer
A paid financial advisor
Other (Please specify) _____________
F5. How likely are you to share information about frauds and scams?
Not at all
Likely
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Extremely
Likely
10
F6. Who do you (or would you) share information about frauds and scams?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
No one
My parents
My children
Another family member
Friends
Religious leader
Lawyer
A paid financial advisor
Other (Please specify) _____________
12
G.
Additional Demographics
The following questions are for classification purposes only.
G2. What was the last year of education that you completed?
1. Did not complete high school
2. High school graduate – regular high school diploma
3. High school graduate – GED or alternative credential
4. Some college
5. College graduate
6. Post graduate education
7. Prefer not to say
G3. What is your marital status?
1. Married
2. Single
3. Separated
4. Divorced
5. Widowed/widower
6. Prefer not to say
G4. Which of the following best describes your current employment or work status?
1. Self employed
2. Work full-time for an employer
3. Work part-time for an employer
4. Homemaker
5. Full-time student
6. Permanently sick, disabled, or unable to work
7. Unemployed or temporarily laid off
8. Retired
9. Prefer not to say
G5. Which language do you speak at home most of the time?
1.
2.
3.
4.
English
Spanish
Some other language. Please specify:_____________
Prefer not to say
G6. How would you characterize the area in which you live?
1. Urban
2. Suburban
3. Rural
Thank you for participating!
13
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Modified | 2014-08-28 |
| File Created | 2014-08-28 |