In addition, credit card fraud and identity theft are the single leading complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission every year. In 2005, over a quarter million Americans were directly affected.
The HVAC trade is not immune to identity theft either. Without proper security measures, rip-off artists and scammers can cut deeply into the profits of contractors and suppliers. "The problem is growing and law enforcement is stalled in their attempts to slow it down," said John Lehman of Cardservice Mobile Solutions, Boca Raton, Fla.