Consumers urged to shop safely online Christmas

To mark the first anniversary of the card industry's Be Card Smart Online initiative, The UK Cards Association is again running its online safety campaign - helping to remind consumers of the steps they can take to minimise their chances of being a victim of card fraud online.

More than 32 million of us now shop online, so it is more important than ever that everyone plays their part in the fight against fraud. Encouragingly, cardholders seem to be heeding the messages from last year's campaign.

Over 53 million credit and debit cards have now been registered with MasterCard SecureCode and Verified by Visa - online payment systems that make cards more secure when shopping on the internet. This is an increase of 112 per cent on the 25 million cards that had been registered this time last year. There has also been a significant increase in the number of retailers using these systems - those that have currently handle more than half of the value of all the UK's online shopping.

This increase in card registrations is matched by the continuing popularity of internet shopping. In recent months there has been a 15 per cent year-on-year growth in online spending, and the indications are that this increase is expected to continue into December.

To help stay safe whilst online, consumers are urged to follow the simple advice below:

Keep your PC protected by ensuring you have the latest operating system, browser and up-to-date anti-virus software.

Look for the padlock symbol - especially if you're buying from a website for the first time. It's a good indication that they are reputable.

Register your cards with Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode when prompted. It is quick and easy and makes shopping online even safer.

Always log out after shopping online and save the confirmation e-mail as a record of your order.

The UK's banking and retail industries are backing the Be Card Smart Online campaign. Katy Worobec, Head of Fraud Control for The UK Cards Association, says: "More of us than ever before will be doing our Christmas shopping online this year, and there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be doing so in complete confidence. Following the simple advice in our Be Card Smart Online campaign will help minimise the chances of cardholders becoming a victim of online fraud. We have recently seen the first ever fall in card fraud over the internet and, hopefully, this latest campaign will help even more of us stay free from fraud."

The Be Card Smart Online campaign features a series of advertisements appearing in online banners at selected shopping websites during the Christmas shopping period.

Consumers can learn more about how to stay safe online by visiting becardsmart.org.uk.