The study from life assistance company CPP estimates that Brits were targeted by 3.7 billion 'phishing' emails in the last 12 months alone. And a quarter of those surveyed admit to falling victim to e-fraudsters, with the average victim losing over GBP285 each.
Fake banking emails are the most common method used by criminals, with 55% of those targeted receiving seemingly legitimate e-correspondence from high street banks. Over half received false lottery or competition prize draws, while a further one in two was targeted by foreign cons such as the renowned "Nigerian 419 advance fee fraud" scam.
Latest industry figures show that online banking fraud rose by 14% in the last 12 months. In fact, nearly half of Brits worry their card details could be used to make illegal online purchases.
Fraudsters are also exploiting the explosion of social networking sites and current defaults in privacy settings to target victims. Nearly one fifth of Brits have received phoney Facebook messages claiming to be from friends or family. One in 10 fear that fraudsters are using Twitter to follow them and a third are concerned their social networking account could be hacked.
Commenting on the report, Nicole Sanders, identity fraud expert at CPP said: “It seems that not a day goes by without a new case of online fraud hitting the headlines. But what's concerning is that consumers are still falling victim.
“Fraudsters are becoming ever more skilled in their techniques and tactics. It can be extremely difficult to spot a legitimate email from a scam, so we advise caution at all times when online. And as social networking sites become increasingly popular, people need to continue to be mindful of what they post. Their identity is as valuable to a thief as a credit card, so protecting personal details is key.’
For more information, visit the CPP website.
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