| More than on in ten (12 per cent) of UK internet users | | | | Despite the attitude that internet safety is someone |
| fell victim to fraud over the last 12 months. | | | | else's responsibility held by many a majority (53 per |
| A study sponsored by the government and industry | | | | cent) thought that there should be an 'internet safety |
| online safety campaign, Get Safe Online, found that on | | | | test' - much like the driving test - to ensure surfers are |
| average users lost £875 as a result of these | | | | aware of the online risks and of their personal |
| scams, which hit an estimated 3.5m of the UK's 29m | | | | responsibility to stay safe. More than three-quarters of |
| adult internet users. The survey of 2,200 adults | | | | those surveyed (78 per cent) felt that there should be |
| suggests around 1.7m people in the UK suffered fraud | | | | lessons in schools to teach youngsters safe surfing |
| while shopping online, 1.5m experienced another form | | | | tips. |
| of general online fraud and 1.2m were subject to bank | | | | Pat McFadden, the minister with responsibility for |
| account or credit card fraud as a result of activity | | | | transformational government, commented: "As we |
| online. Some unfortunates were subject to more than | | | | make more services available online so we need |
| one type of fraud over the last year. | | | | users to take the same basic precautions in using the |
| If surfers took the same precautions online as they | | | | internet as they would when making transactions in the |
| would on the high street then fraudulent losses would | | | | high street - such as not sharing your bank details or |
| drop, backers of the Get Safe Online campaign argue. | | | | passwords. |
| But fewer than half (48 per cent) of internet users feel | | | | "This Survey shows that although the internet offers |
| they are responsible for their own online safety. | | | | great opportunities for people to carry out their |
| One-in-six (16 per cent) believe their bank is wholly | | | | business when and how they like, people must also |
| responsible for their online protection, whilst 13 per cent | | | | take care if we are to stop criminals abusing greater |
| feel reckon ISPs should shield them from security | | | | popular use of the net. |
| threats. | | | | |