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Christmas shoppers 'in danger of online fraud'

Internet security concerns in the UK have been raised with the news that Christmas shoppers are at risk of being victims of online fraud as a result of poor online security practices.

Research by life assistance company CPP states that shoppers are taking risks shopping online this Christmas with one in four under 35s rarely, if ever, checking whether a webpage is secure before making a purchase.

Many leave themselves exposed to ID theft as they exit websites after shopping without bothering to log out, leaving their personal details vulnerable to online fraudsters.

"A lot of people when they are filling out these questionnaires [online] will quite happily give out their name, their address, their date of birth, maybe even where they are born," observed Danny Harrison of CPP.

These details can be used to create false identities with documents such as passports and driving licences, which can then be used for financial gain leaving their victims in debt.

CPP recommends installing anti-virus software, which scans for malicious files that can set the stage for online fraud.

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