It is anticipated that the fraud on the e-commerce internet space costs $2.8 billion.

But the report contained no information about which schools were padding attendance, who was responsible or exactly how much the alleged fraud cost the state.

Industry officials said that fraud, including calling card schemes, costs the telephone industry about $4 billion each year.

The company said the suspected fraud, committed by persons outside Volkswagen with the help of company employees, cost it $259 million.

Mr. Qanooni has contended that widespread fraud and irregularities in the voting have cost him much of the vote.

The National Fraud Authority estimates that fraud costs the public sector £21 billion a year.

Investigators did not say how much the fraud cost the Government.

Officials estimate this fraud costs carriers tens of millions of dollars annually.

It estimated that fraud would cost $100 billion a year by 1995.

Federal officials estimate that fraud and waste cost the Medicare and Medicaid system $57 billion in 1997.