| According to new figures released by the BBC, | | | | journalists posed as computer hackers in order to |
| internet credit and debit card fraud in the UK is a much | | | | infiltrate a website that sold thousands of credit card |
| bigger problem than it was previously thought. This | | | | details that were stolen online from small retail |
| makes it essential for small businesses with | | | | businesses. The journalists obtained the details of |
| ecommerce websites to ensure that they are offering | | | | these stolen cards and when they were used, they |
| their customers a secure online payment method. | | | | traced the transactions to a number of UK addresses. |
| Failure to do this could reduce online sales or even | | | | It is thought that the BBC has now passed this |
| damage your reputation as a business. | | | | information on to the police. |
| The Rise of Internet Crime | | | | Getting Away with It |
| Data obtained from the banking industry indicates that | | | | Andrew McClelland, a spokesperson for the Interactive |
| card losses from internet, phone and mail order crime | | | | Media in Retail Group (IMRG), which is an organisation |
| amounted to a massive £290.5m in 2007. However, | | | | that represents online retailers, said that these statistics |
| the BBC statistics showed that this amount could | | | | showed that despite the online marketplace making a |
| amount to as much as £500m if failed attempts at | | | | significant contribution to the UK economy, it was still |
| internet crime were also taken into account. These | | | | too easy to commit fraud and other crimes on the |
| statistics add weight to the Tories’ argument | | | | internet. He said: “If you're committing a crime |
| that the government should appoint a minister to deal | | | | online then there is a high probability that you'll get |
| specifically with internet crime. However, government | | | | away with it and even if you are caught a fairly high |
| ministers have already stated that they have invested | | | | probability again that the punishment won't be that |
| a significant £29m towards the fighting of online | | | | severe.” |
| crime and they have also vowed to work with the | | | | Fraud Prevention and Protection |
| banking industry in order to encourage online retailers | | | | Until the government decide to do more to combat the |
| to adopt more anti-fraud devices. | | | | ever-increasing problem of internet fraud, one of the |
| Undercover Investigation | | | | only ways to help prevent it is through responsible |
| The BBC figures were obtained after BBC News | | | | retailing. Therefore, in order to better protect their |
| underwent an undercover operation into credit card | | | | customers from credit and debit card fraud on the |
| fraud, which revealed just how simple it was to gain | | | | internet, small businesses should ensure that their |
| access to stolen credit and debit card details online. | | | | ecommerce websites are as safe and secure as |
| During the undercover investigation, two BBC | | | | possible. |