Travellers should be careful about card fraud

With the summer holidays fast approaching many consumers in the UK are getting set to jet off on their holidays to far flung destination, and for many their credit or debit cards will provide a valuable facility to make purchases and withdraw cash whilst they are on holiday.

However, increasingly advanced credit and debit card fraud methods means that consumers that plan to take their credit or debit cards abroad need to be vigilant with regards to using their cards safely abroad in order to avoid becoming the victims of card fraud.

According to the insurance company CPP over nine thousand cases of card fraud were handled by the firm last year alone. Amongst the destination where card fraud seemed more prevalent were Italy, France, and Spain. Over twenty five percent of this fraudulent activity with debit and credit cards took place in Spain, which is a hugely popular holiday destination amongst tourists from the UK.

One official from CPP stated: "As summer vacation is approaching, we are urging holiday makers to be vigilant at all times abroad.  In countries where chip and pin [technology] is not widely available, criminals have ample opportunities to skim the cards and commit fraudulent activities."

According to figures that were recently released by APACS there was a rise of forty three percent in the number fraudulent transactions involving credit and debit cards in 2006 compared to 2005.

Although credit and debti cards provide travellers with a conveient and simple solution when it comes to making purchases and withdrawing cash, the dangers of becoming a victim of credit card fraud are all too real, and consumers need to exercise caution in terms of looking after their cards as well as in terms of safe use of their cards, ensuring that their details cannot be taken by strangers in their holiday destination.

Tom Smith
17th June 2007