Birmingham Suffers Highest UK Rate Of Card Fraud
A new study has revealed that Birmingham has the unenviable title of the UK's card fraud capital. The Midlands city has seen 34% of residents admitting that they have been victims of card fraud.
According to card protection firm, CPP, Plymouth was second when it came to the worst places to live for card fraud. Their research looked at UK cities, which have the highest rates of card fraud, and included cards that have been stolen whilst in postal transit or account details that have fraudulently been taken via the Internet.
Of those living in Plymouth, 30% said they had been victims of card fraud, followed closely by Cambridge (28.6%), Belfast (28.5%) then London (28.3%).
Zoe Manton, head of card protection at CCP, commented: "Birmingham is the second biggest city in the UK and it's a very vibrant, young city with lots of students.
"The shopping areas and restaurants have been improved and the fraudsters know that people visiting or living in the area less vigilant than they should be."
Being vigilant when using your credit or debit card, as well as following some vital steps, should help reduce your chances of falling foul of card fraudsters.
Ms Manton added: "Always know where your cards are at all times. Never hand them over in restaurants or bars. Make sure you only carry around the cards you need, don't have a whole wallet full and never give our your personal details unnecessary."
Other UK cities to make the fraud table were Leeds (28.1%), Liverpool (27%), Manchester (26.3%), Norwich (25 %) and Aberdeen (24.3%).
Whilst Chip and Pin has went some way to reducing card crime, card holders' vigilance will always be paramount in defeating the card fraudsters.
Tom Smith
2nd February 2007
More Information:
- Identity Theft
Identity theft is a major issue in the UK, and with good reason. It has been estimated that it can take up to sixty hours of work to recover a stolen identity, and in the worst cases, cost up to £8000 to put right. But what can be dome to prevent this?
- ‘Vishing’ – A New Type Of Credit Card Fraud
With the full integration of Chip and PIN technology in 2005, credit card fraudsters now have to look for ever more ingenious ways to try and defraud UK credit cardholders. Topping this list is a very ingenious and sophisticated telephone scam that fraudsters are using to obtain the credit details of cardholders – ‘vishing’.
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