Government pledges to tackle card fraud
Gordon Brown has unveiled a National Fraud Strategy as part of a government package to protect credit card holders.
The prime minister announced this week that the scheme is an attempt to combat the £14 billion lost each year through credit card crime, as well as bogus lotteries, get-rich-quick schemes and investment scams.
Other initiatives to help consumers in the economic downturn include stopping lenders from raising credit card borrowing limits where customers have not requested the increase and ending the practice of firms sending unsolicited credit card cheques.
Mr Brown said: "The changes we're dealing with as a country right now are enormous.
"But we are determined to do our bit - when we see hard-working, hard-pressed people being buffeted about by a storm not of their making, we will never pass by on the other side."
In related news, the Independent reported earlier this week that crime carried out on debit and credit cards is expected to have topped £600 million last year - a record high.
Written by Marcus Jenkins ©
