Internet safe for customers

UK payments association APACS has published research which insists the internet is a "very safe" medium through which to buy products online, after online credit card fraud has jumped from £23.2million in 2005 to £33.5million in 2006.

The number of people who bank online is now as much as £15 million and even more use the web frequently to shop for goods.

Customers leave themselves open to internet credit card fraud in a number of ways in a variety of different ways, from having their credit card used in internet fraud after being stolen, or failing to log out after shopping on the internet, leaving their personal details visible to others.

APACS said they were sure that combating internet fraud could be achieved using "common sense".

"It isn’t [a major concern] as long as you take common sense precautions and not just with the actual shopping in the way you use your card, but the way that your computer’s set up and indeed the sites that you’re visiting," said spokesman Mark Bowerman.