APACS: Use secure code for cards used online

APACS, the UK trade association for payments and for those institutions that deliver payment services to customers, has recommended that those card-holders who purchase goods online acquire a secure code in order to combat ID fraud.

The code can be acquired for any Visa or Mastercard and ensures that any transaction is protected by a password which acts as an extra security measure.

APACS spokesman Mark Bowerman advised: "If you haven’t [already], you should sign up to [have your card] verified by Visa and MasterCard secure code. They are online payment protection systems essentially."

He explained: "What you do is register a password with your card company that you use when you shop on line at participating websites and participating retailers, and basically when you type in your card account number and the expiry date and what you want to purchase, they’ll just ask you what your password."

According to a 2006 study from Experian, over one in four UK consumers has been a victim of identity fraud.