Don't make it easy for Fraudsters - Opik

10.54.50am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 9th Nov 2006

Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire, today welcomed the Fraud Prevention Initiative launched by Crimestoppers and the UK Payments Association (APACS). The campaign aims to raise awareness of the simple measures everyone can take to protect themselves against fraud.

Lembit said,

"It should never be underestimated how important it is to keep your personal information and documents safe from getting into the hands of fraudsters.

"It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to make sure we don't become victims"

New research commissioned by APACS shows that millions of Britons are still not aware of some basic security pitfalls.

Commenting further, Lembit said

"If you follow simple rules like never writing down your passwords, login details or PINs, and only shop at secure websites then you're already making the life of a fraudster that little bit harder".

Ends / Diwedd

Notes:

1) Ten Top Tips to Foil Fraudsters

• Don't let your cards or your card details out of your sight when making a transaction.

• Destroy, preferably shred, any documents or receipts that contain personal financial information when you dispose of them.

• Do not keep your passwords, login details ad PINs written down.

• Do not disclose PINs, login details or passwords in response to unsolicited emails claiming to be from your bank of the police.

• When entering your PIN in a shop or cash machine use your spare hand to shield the number from prying eyes or hidden cameras.

• Only divulge your card details in a telephone transaction when you have instigated the call and are familiar with the company.

• Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed.

• If you have registered your card for online protection via Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode ensure your password is kept safe and secure.

• Access internet banking or shopping sites by typing the address into your web browser. Never go to a website from a link in an email and then enter personal details.

• Shop at secure websites by ensuring that the security icon (locked padlock or unbroken key symbol) is showing in the bottom of your browser window.

2) Online, telephone and mail order card fraud - card-not-present (CNP) fraud

A CNP transaction is one made when neither the card nor the cardholder is present at a till point in a shop, such as transactions made over the internet, telephone, fax or by mail order. APACS has produced best practice guidelines for preventing CNP fraud, available in a number of formats. The publication Spot & Stop Card-not-Present Fraud is available to download from www.cardwatch.org.uk. This site also contains an e-learning version of the guide, which is also available to order as a CD-Rom.

3) Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode

These are e-commerce solutions that enable cardholders to authenticate themselves when shopping online at participating merchants through the use of a private password or code. More information is available at www.visaeurope.com and www.mastercard.com/uk

4) APACS

APACS is the UK payments trade association and the authoritative voice on issues such as cards, cheques, cash, clearing systems and payment fraud. Card Watch is the UK banking industry's fraud awareness body that works with police, retailers and organisations including Crimestoppers to fight plastic card fraud.

5) Phishing

Phishing is the name given to the practice used by fraudsters who send emails at random that seem to come from a genuine online bank or business, in an attempt to trick customers of those companies into disclosing personal security information, typically at a bogus website operated by the fraudsters.

You can prevent yourself from becoming a victim of phishing by being wary of all unsolicited emails, even if they appear to originate from a trusted source. Although your bank may contact you by email, it will never ask you to reconfirm your login or security password information by clicking on a link in an email and visiting a website. For more information, visit www.banksafeonline.org.uk

6) Phishing incidents

In a phishing incident fraudsters set up a website that is a fake version of a genuine bank website, and then send out thousands or even millions of spam emails trying to convince people to click on a link that will send them to that fake site. The objective is to fool people into then entering their online banking security information - such as user names, PINs and passwords - onto the fake site.

7) About Crimestoppers

• Crimestoppers is the only charity dedicated to solving crimes and taking criminals off the streets. Around 17 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers

• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has had over 850,000 calls. There have been over 75,000 arrests, over £95m property has been recovered and over £130m worth of drugs has been seized.

8) APACS' Consumer Research

• Tickbox.net carried out research commissioned by APACS to investigate how securely Britons keep their PINs, passwords and personal information.

• The research for APACS was carried out online by Tickbox.net between 20/09/2006 and 05/10/2006 amongst a nationally representative sample of 1,618 UK adults aged 16+.

• Tickbox.net is a leading market research organisation, carrying out consumer, corporate and niche market surveys online amongst a 50,000+ member panel.

Tickbox.net is a member of the BMRA (British Market Research Association), follows the codes of the MRS (Market Research Society) and is fully registered and compliant with the Data Protection Registrar, as well as being the preferred research supplier of the PRCA (Public Relations Consultants Association).