The bad news, is a lot of people are complaining about getting ripped off. The good news is, a lot of people are complaining about getting ripped off.

In their annual joint press conference on consumer fraud, four city, state, and federal agencies plus two do-gooder organizations said complaints and inquiries were generally up for the New York area, with various agencies juggling positions on their top 10 lists. The city’s department of consumer Affairs, for instance, said shoddy home repairs brought the largest number of grievances, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) said consumer electronics rip-offs topped their lists of complaints.

Barbara Anthony, regional director of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also lauded a “growing awareness” among consumers to check out companies before they shell out cash or give out their names and data. In fact, identity theft – people using your name and some of your identification or otherwise rip you off – topped the FTC’s list regionally and nationally, with the numbers rising.

Some 635,000 people complained in 2004, up from a little over a half million the year before, the FTC said.

Ms. Anthony said part of the increase in numbers was due to people’s greater awareness of their rights, in part due to new laws against the crime, and in part to increased cooperation from other agencies.

Susan Kassapian of the city’s department of consumer affairs had advice for home improvement projects: Use only licensed contractors, checking out the contractor and his license at the DCA Web site and helpline; never pay more than one third in advance, and never send your final payment until the job is fully completed to your satisfaction.