Credit card thefts 'rise during Christmas'

By Sarah Engle, Thu 10 Dec 2009 - Published in Credit Cards

People need to be wary of theft when using their credit cards to buy Christmas shopping, according to an expert.

Recent research from security specialist CPP found that 21 per cent of shoppers have had their debit or credit card lost or stolen, while 31 per cent of these were then the victims of fraud.

Commenting on the report, Sarah Blaney, card fraud expert at CPP, pointed out that there is an increase in loss and thefts during the festive period but said people can take simple steps to reduce the risk of this.

"If you are only going to use maybe one or two cards to buy your presents with then that's all you need to take with you," she explained.

Ms Blaney advised people to avoid carrying the cards loose in their pocket and recommended they are always stored in a wallet or purse.

The expert also recommended consumers check their receipts against bank statements when they have finished their Christmas shopping, in order to identify any fraudulent transactions.

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