Broadband News

One in ten web users are victims of fraud

(27-03-07) - Online fraud has affected one in ten internet users, with victims losing an average of £875 over the last twelve months.

‘Internet Safety: The State of the Nation’, research by the Government and industry online safety campaign, Get Safe Online, found that 12% of web users were fraud victims. The campaign surveyed UK adult web users, and found that:

• 6% had been defrauded while shopping online
• 4% had experienced bank account or credit card fraud
• 5% had suffered some other type of fraud.

The recent rise in fraud could be attributed to a general rise in internet usage, but the Get Safe Online campaign claims that consumers are not taking the same precautions online as they would while shopping on the high street.

Only 48% of internet users surveyed felt they should be responsible for their own online safety. 16% said their bank should be responsible, while 13% believe their ISP should take care of safety issues.

Tony Neate, managing director of Get Safe Online said: “The Internet is a fantastic resource and its use is growing daily. Our message is that each one of us has to take greater personal responsibility for our own online security.”

Chris Eagle, Commercial Manager at Broadband Choices, comments: “We’ve seen a huge rise in internet usage and wireless networks, but this comes with increased fraud risks. People must take web security seriously: the technical side might sound intimidating but there are simple steps consumers can take to protect themselves.”

Click here for our 20 point guide to internet security.