North Carolina is no stranger to this crime; according to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers in the Tar Heel state lodged nearly 15,000 fraud complaints in 2007 and more than 23,000 last year. In 2008, North Carolina ranked 24th among all 50 states in the number of fraud complaints, and more than 25% of all identity theft complaints were made by individuals aged 50 and over. Although the actual extent of fraud against the elderly is not clear because it is an under-reported crime, the impact is substantial and far-reaching.