One in ten UK consumers become victims of Internet fraud

A recent survey carried out into Internet fraud has revealed that around one in ten people in the UK have been victims of Internet fraud, begging the question with regards to whether banks and financial institutions are looking after the interest of their customers. According to recent data each victim of Internet fraud has lost an average of nearly ni9ne hundred pounds as a result of this type of activity.

Around thirty billion pounds a year is spent on Internet transactions according to officials figures, and this reflect the confidence that UK consumers have when it comes to spending money online. However, many assume that they will automatically be protected against any form of suspicious activity, and this is simply not the case, with many people finding themselves victim to Internet fraud.

A statement from the director of the group Get Safe Online read: "The internet now is the real world. "We don't blame the police when we get burgled and we must take responsibility for what we do online in the same way we do for securing our houses and cars."
 
Many of the people that were interviewed as part of the survey admitted that they had no basic security facilities, and many others stated that they did not use basic security checks and procedures. It is important for those that make financial transactions online to make sure that they are using a secure site, and to ensure that they do not provide personal and financial details in response to email requests. An alarming number of people believe that banks and financial institutions are keeping a look out for their financial security, but it is actually up to the consumer to ensure that they use their account information responsibly.

Tom Smith
15th May 2007