12 March 2008
Losses on credit cards from fraud have jumped in the last year, according to figures published by the UK's payments association Apacs.
In 2007, £535 million of consumers' cash was stolen this way, up from the amount seen in 2006, it said.
The organisation added that since chip and pin was introduced, fraud when people have been overseas has rocketed, with a 77% rise seen last year.
Apacs' official Sandra Quinn stated that such activity is taking place in a number of areas and that it is often organised.
She commented: 'It mainly happens in places like bars, restaurants and petrol stations, where the chance of a credit card going out of sight is higher."
But she added that as a greater number of countries start to follow in the footsteps of the UK and introduce chip and pin, the chances for such crime abroad will decrease.
Police in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, recently warned of a potential scam by thieves to take credit card details from petrol stations, reports the News & Star.
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