London has been confirmed as theweb-fraudcapital of Britain, leading
the pack when it comes to CNP (cardholder not present)
fraud.
With an increase of around 22% in national internet card crime,
the latest
Early
Warning Fraud Map shows London, Manchester, Coventry,
Kilmarnock and Bristol as sustaining significantly more fraudulent
transactions than elsewhere.
Early Warning compiles an online database of internet crime and
provides tools to merchants help tackle it.
Greater London easily heads the list. The data suggests the
postcode of SE18, which includes the high-crime Thamesmead area,
could be a candidate for the card fraud capital of Europe.
Outside London, Northampton and Stockport, last year denoted as
"amber" areas but predicted to make the top ten, have rapidly
turned "red".
Andrew Goodwill, managing director of Early Warning said, "What
is notable is the number of postcodes around the country where the
Fraud Map last year registered negligible fraud, but which are now
showing 'medium' or 'high' levels of fraud. We have to accept that
nowhere is exempt."
Goodwill said
chip and Pin in the high street had driven fraudsters to the
web. To help combat the problem, Early Warning has developed an
on-line "post-code risk assessment tool", which is freely available
to internet traders via www.early-warning.org.uk
Top ten UK CNP fraud hotspots
1. London
2. Manchester
3. Coventry
4. Kilmarnock
5. Bristol
6. Brighton
7. Leicester
8. Leeds
9. Glasgow
10. Nottingham