Consumers advised to use internet safely

The internet is "very safe" to use but only if a common sense approach is taken by consumers, an expert has advised.

A number of precautions must be taken by online shoppers to ensure their card details don't fall into the wrong hands, the UK's payment association Apacs has said.

For example, one in four online users fail to check if a website is safe and secure, while one in eight do not log out of web pages - leaving themselves open to fraudulent activity.

Spokesperson for Apacs Mark Bowerman advised customers to be wary of the set up of their computers and the site they are visiting.

Mastercard and Visa have set up online security systems with participating merchants to add an extra verification level, he added.

According to the association, 15 million people in the UK use internet banking and that number is likely to increase by 2014 to two-thirds of Britons. However, there has been an increase in online banking fraud which is in part due to the introduction of chip and pin, Apacs has said.

Small and medium-sized businesses have also been advised by the British Retail Consortium to embrace the internet as another channel of selling in an effort to stave off competition from bigger retailers.

© Adfero Ltd

27 Jul 2007 15:01:12 (Source: Adfero)