Losses from online banking fraud have dropped by a third in a
year, even as the number of people using the services continues to
increase.
Figures from the Association
of Payment and Clearing Services (Apacs) revealed total losses
for online banking fraud were £22.6m in 2007, compared to £33.5m in
2006.
The number of UK citizens using an online banking service has
increased from 3.5 million seven years ago to more than 21 million
last year. This accounts for about a third of the UK population and
is more than half of internet users.
Criminals are still using phishing to commit fraud, tricking
users into divulging account details, because the security systems
used by banks are difficult to attack.
And the number of phishing scams is increasing. According to
Apacs, 20,000 phishing incidents were reported in the first half of
this year, an increase of more than 180% compared to the same
period last year.
Apacs has published a
Banking Safely Online advice
guide and set
upwww.cardwatch.org.uk to help
customers avoid falling foul of these attacks.
An Apacs spokeswoman said fraud is dropping because of a
combination of user awareness of scams such as phishing and banks
proving stronger security.
"People are more aware of the risks and banks have made their
systems more secure and are offering customers additional security
products," she said.