Card fraud fears close to home

Britons believe they run a greater risk of falling victim to credit card fraud in the UK than when travelling abroad, according to a report out today.

Fraud on lost and stolen cards alone amounted to £106.1million in the UK over the past year, which was higher than losses in France, Spain and the US, according to the study by credit card security company CPP.

Two thousand holidaymakers were asked their opinions on card fraud and where they thought they were most likely to become a victim.

Sixteen per cent were mostly concerned about occurrences in the UK.

Forty-four per cent believed there was a higher risk of having their purse or wallet stolen in Europe than anywhere else in the world.

Nick Jones of CPP said: "With more than 26 million Britons flying off for a sunshine break this summer, the safety of their wallets and purses should be of maximum importance.

"Although France, Spain and the US are those foreign countries where most card fraud on UK-issued cards occurs, our findings show that it is essential that cardholders remain alert at home."