One in ten adults have been victims of card or account fraud in the past year, losing a combined total of more than £2bn – a rise of almost 40% on the previous period – yet many are not taking basic steps to protect themselves.
The Financial Ombudsman said this week that banks and other providers must do more to help those who have been targetted. However, account holders also need to play their part.
The number of cyber fraud cases in the UK is falling but, with thieves becoming more expert, the amount stolen is actually growing.
Figures from fraud prevention organisation Cifas show that between January and July, 33,305 people had their identity stolen by criminals who took out credit cards in their name.
Although, overall, identity theft cases are declining, incidences of card fraud have risen 12% in the past year, largely because it is so easy to access personal data.
Glyn Whittick, who heads the police’s Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, said: “Criminal gangs are increasingly sophisticated and taking advantage of new technologies to commit fraud online.”
According Compare the Market, in the 12 months to the end of May, 4.7 million people had their credit card, debit card or bank account cancelled or replaced as a result of actual or attempted fraud.
This was down from 5.5 million the year before, but victims lost an average of £833 each, up 38% on the previous total of £600.
Shakila Hashmi, the website’s head of money, said: “In the last two years, we have seen the average amount stolen from accounts soar from £475 in 2016 to £833 in 2018. This is an extremely worrying trend and suggests a significant rise in aggressive bank and credit card fraud.”
The most common form, accounting for 28% of known cases, takes place through online payments and is frequently linked to the use of pre-populated card details.
A third of respondents to Compare the Market’s survey admitted they used web browsing “auto-fill” technology to speed up purchases, and over half said they were concerned about the safety of this.
Although consumers are becoming more aware of the potential for fraud, Ms Hashmi believes many are not doing enough to keep their money safe.
She said: “It is reassuring to see that some behaviour is changing as a result of fraud.
“People are more likely to check their bank and credit card accounts regularly, and to have different passwords and pins for their various accounts, and most now won’t give out their bank details over the phone.
“All of these measures need to be ramped up in order for people to lessen the chance of being hacked.”
To obtain a credit card in someone else’s name, a fraudster needs only their date of birth, address and the name of their bank.
According to consumers’ organisation Which?, this information is not hard to find, as people routinely reveal too much about themselves on social media.
They may be tricked into giving out personal details and passwords when criminals make contact posing as bank staff, or they leave post unattended in shared areas of flats or fail to shred paperwork containing sensitive data before binning it.
To keep your cards, accounts and personal data safe, don’t let websites store your details, and never use public Wi-Fi or shared computers to access banking apps or make payments.
Install antivirus software on your devices and, to benefit from the latest security improvements, allow regular software updates.
Protect all social media, online shopping and email accounts and devices with strong passwords. Don’t use the same one for everything and never reveal them to anyone. Cifas recommends combining three random words with capital letters, numbers and punctuation.
Check social media privacy settings. Never share information that could be valuable to fraudsters, and review your digital footprint by typing your name into several search engines. If anything sensitive comes up, get it deleted.
Keep your mail secure, and if you move house, ensure it is redirected. Check bank and card statements as soon as they arrive and query all unexpected activity.
If you are contacted by a bank or card provider about an account you didn’t open, respond immediately so the account can be blocked.
If you start having trouble with your credit score, check your “statutory report”. This costs just £2 via the websites of agencies Experian, Equifax and Call Credit. If the report includes an account or even a credit search from a company you don’t recognise, notify the agency right away.
All card and account fraud should be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk.
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