From Melanie Hubbard, Association for Payment Clearing Services
The unenviable situation faced by Craig Webster, whose credit card number was
used fraudulently over the Internet
(Letters, 21 November, p 62),
is another outcome of plastic card fraud which last year cost UK banks and building
societies £122 million.
Although Internet purchases are subject to a variety of security checks by
banks and retailers to establish that orders are genuine before payment is
authorised, cardholders are advised to take the following precautions:
1. Only give your card and personal details to retailers who use secure
transaction technology. A retailer should state clearly on their home page that
secure technology is used.
2. Ensure the security feature in your browser is switched on.
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3. Never give your bank card personal identification number (PIN) to anyone,
not even the police or your bank manager.
Last year incidence of plastic card fraud increased by 26 per cent on the
previous year. Being a victim of this kind of fraud is stressful and
frustrating, as Mr Webster can testify, and it is an issue that demands our
awareness and caution.
London
