420,000 Scam Email Sent In UK Every Hour

The amount of online fraud taking place in the UK is still rising, with 3.7 billion phishing emails sent in the last twelve months. But despite continuous warnings, people are still falling victim – according to so-called “life assistance” company CPP.

More than 420,000 scam emails are sent every hour in the UK, the majority of which are designed to look like legitimate e-correspondence from high street banks, asking the victim to confirm their personal details. Latest industry figures from the UK Payments Administration show that online banking fraud has risen by 132 percent in the last 12 months, and 46 percent of British people worry that their card details could be used illegally.

Consumers still falling victim

Over half of those surveyed had also received false lottery or competition prize draws, while a further 50 percent said they had been targeted by foreign cons, such as the renowned Nigerian “419” scam emails.

“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,” said Nicole Sanders, identity fraud expert at CPP. “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,”  Sanders added.

According to CPP’s figures, nearly a fifth of Brits have received fake Facebook messages, claiming to be from friends or family, and one in 10 fear that fraudsters are using Twitter to follow them. A third of us are also concerned that our social networking accounts could be hacked.

Overall, a quarter of British people admit to falling victim to e-fraudsters, with 48 percent having been scammed in the last 12 months. With the average victim losing over £285 each, this amounts to more than £1.3 billion in online fraud losses over the last year.

Staying safe online

However, reformed computer hacker Robert Schifreen claims that staying safe online is easy, as long as  you follow some basic precautions.

“Never type your credit card number, password, or any other confidential information into a web site unless its address begins with https and your browser displays the ‘closed padlock’ symbol,” he said. “These indicate that the site is safe and that your data is encrypted. Also, make sure your antivirus software subscription is up to date and that your computer is configured to automatically download protective software.”

Phishing scams and account hacks can not only leave a hole in your pocket but also damage your reputation, as some high-profile victims know only too well. Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web fell foul to fraud after buying Christmas gifts online, which failed to show up. Actress Salma Hayek has had her Apple MobileMe account attacked, and only this year MP Ed Miliband’s fell victim to a Twitter phishing scam, with Miliband’s followers getting spam promising better sexual performance.

On 1 June, the Serious and Organised Crime unit (SOCA) led the UK’s involvement in a day of action to publicise the growing threat from online fraud and other forms of extortion and criminal activity. “Once people get wise to one scam, the criminals will switch to something else,” said SOCA fraud expert Colin Woodcock.