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Web targeted by credit card fraudsters

Consumers who use their credit or debit cards to purchase goods over the internet are being warned that the risk of being targeted by identity thieves is high.

According to OnlyFinance.com, the likelihood of becoming a victim to this sort of crime is much greater than previously believed by industry experts.

New figures show that last year, if all the cyber criminals had been successful in their operations, card losses would have reached an estimated £500 million.

This is despite the banking industry previously stating that in 2007 theft through plastic being used over the phone, internet or mail order was just £290.5 million.

The latest data was gained through an investigation into how easy it is to obtain people's personal details by those involved pretending to be hackers.

"If you're committing a crime online then there is a high probability that you’ll get away with it," Andrew McClelland, of Interactive Media in Retail Group told the website.

A recent survey by Fortify Software found that 81 per cent of companies are aware that they are vulnerable to hacking.

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