Britons fall for internet scams
4 May 2005
Five per cent of UK internet users claims to have lost money through internet scams, a new survey suggests.
Research by YouGov on behalf of AOL found that almost half of those surveyed claimed that they had received phishing emails intent on tricking web users into divulging confidential information.
Online frauds are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but a quarter of the 2,052 internet users polled said they were not aware that they could be held liable even if they unwittingly provided information to scammers.
Companies are introducing a range of security features in a bid to prevent phishing fraud, including security icons, reporting systems and warnings to customers.
Of the one per cent who said they had lost money as a result of phishing emails, 53 per cent said their bank or credit card provider did not compensate them, while a further 11 per cent said they were still waiting for compensation. Online frauds often total less than £100 and small amounts can often be overlooked, the researchers said.
"As well as using spam filters and being wary of unsolicited emails, we would advise internet users to check their bank balance regularly and read their bank's terms and conditions," said Will Smith, AOL's safety and security expert.
According to AOL, many UK banks are currently compensating losses incurred as a result of phishing fraud, but warned that this may change in the future.
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