Credit card fraud prevention campaign launches
The Association of Payment Clearing Services (APACS) is launching a new campaign to combat card fraud and hopes to raise awareness of how consumers can protect themselves against the increasing threat of identity theft.
Credit card fraud prevention campaign launches
As more and more of us are shopping online with our cards, we all need to take an active role in protecting our personal information.”
APACS advises consumers that in order to decrease the chances of becoming a victim of card crime, they must keep their cards as safe and secure as possible and also not let them out of their sight when making purchases.
According to APACS the latest card fraud figures show that internet fraud is responsible for one quarter of all losses and the way that fraudsters usually get the card details is in real life situations and they then use those details to make purchases online.
Online risks
New studies commissioned by APACS show that millions of British consumers aren’t aware of the risks they are taking by not knowing how to protect their details online.
One in 8 internet shoppers are failing to log out and therefore leaving their financial details available to others while one quarter are failing to check whether or not a website is safe and secure.
Almost half of the UK’s 14–16 year olds do not know what phishing is and over half of the people in the APACS study were also unaware that they could get extra online protection for their cards by signing up to Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode.
New campaign
APACS new initiative the Be Card Smart Online campaign hopes to address the risks we are all taking with our cards and educate consumers on how to be safer with their credit and debit cards online.
The advice which APACS is offering includes information on using anti-virus software to protect against hackers and facts on internet security and reputable online retailers.
The Director of Communications at APACS, Sandra Quinn said: "Tackling card-not-present fraud continues to be a focus for the banking industry and this advertising campaign will help to raise awareness to cardholders of the simple steps they can take to make life harder for online shopping fraudsters."
"As more and more of us are shopping online with our cards, we all need to take an active role in protecting our personal information."
As part of the online campaign, consumers will be directed to the website, www.becardsmart.co.uk where they’ll find tips and tricks to protect their details.
Various banks and online stores are also doing their bit to support the campaign and creating their own content which offers similar advice.
Saatchi & Saatchi’s Peter Lovatt has spoken out about how positive the campaign will be, saying: "With internet shopping becoming increasingly popular and online card fraud with it, cardholders need to take a few sensible precautions. The Be Card Smart Online campaign uses a simple card-shaped graphic device to carry relevant safety messages and ensure maximum impact in both print and online media."
The hope of APACS is that people will heed their advice and be more responsible with their plastic both online and out in the real world.
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