Warning issued to users after ID fraud increase

A leading online security body has called on internet users to remain vigilant after it was revealed that victims of online fraud are losing an average of £300 per incident.

UK security group VeriSign have expressed concern at levels of PC security being used by home users after it was revealed that 11% of people surveyed had fallen victim online identity fraud.

The figure represents an increase on the previous year although direct financial fraud did fall 12%, suggesting that online criminals are placing their emphasis on more covert forms of fraud.

It is believed that an increase in phishing scams through email and social media is largely behind the increase, with the growth of sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo providing criminals with a new platform from which to target vulnerable users.

“While online ID theft may not necessarily result in immediate financial loss, web users need to remember that fraudsters can farm e-mail and social networking sites for information which enables them to impersonate people online or sell that information to other cybercriminals,” said Phil D’Angio, director at VeriSign.

The majority of respondents (82%) did however claim that they only ever use websites with enhanced security when making transactions or providing personal information online, with so-called ’silver surfers’ are the most conscientious group, with 88% stating that they check the security credentials of a site before interacting with it.

The survey also found that Londoners are the least security conscious when buying online, with 20% stating that they do not make sure they only use websites that have enhanced security, representing a 2% increase over the past six months.

Internet users are also reminded to be suspicious of unexpected emails, particularly those from financial institutions or social networking sites which encourage users to confirm or reset security credentials.

Users can also protect themselves from phishing scams by making use of a comprehensive, up-to-date, Total Security software package that includes an email spam and phishing filter.