• Be Card Smart Online’ campaign launches on 20 October
• Online shoppers set to spend 15 per cent more this December than last
• Research shows consumers can still do more to stay safe online
• Banks, card schemes, retailers and the Home Office come together to promote safer online shopping

With ever increasing numbers of online retailers, more and more of us are finding that using the internet is a convenient and easy way to shop. As a result, and despite the economic downturn, it is expected that online shopping will be more popular than ever before this Christmas. To raise awareness of the steps consumers should take to help stay safe whilst shopping online, APACS, the UK payments association, is launching a new campaign – Be Card Smart Online - on Monday 20 October.

In recent months there has been a 15 per cent year-on-year growth in online spending, and the indications are that this increase is expected to continue into December (1). Research (2) undertaken for APACS backs up this prediction, revealing that 42 per cent of online shoppers expect to do more Christmas shopping online this year compared with last year.

(1) Source: Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG)

(2) See notes to editors

To help stay safe online, consumers are urged to follow the simple advice below:

• Keep your PC protected by ensuring you have the latest operating system, browser and up-to-date anti-virus software.
• Look for the padlock symbol - especially if you’re buying from a website for the first time. It’s a good indication that they are reputable.
• Register your cards with Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode when prompted. It is quick and easy and makes shopping online even safer.
• Always log out after shopping online and save the confirmation e-mail as a record of your order.

Although the above advice sounds like common sense, research shows that not all of us are taking the appropriate steps to protect ourselves from online fraudsters. Only half (48 per cent) of online shoppers say they follow all of this advice on a regular basis. Consumers are encouraged to learn more by visiting www.becardsmart.org.uk.

The UK’s banking and retail industries, the international card schemes - Visa and MasterCard – as well as the Home Office are all backing the Be Card Smart Online campaign. Vernon Coaker MP, Policing Minister, says:

"We all have a role to play in helping cardholders shop safely over the internet and I am pleased to give my support to the banking and retail industries in promoting this initiative. The common sense advice in this campaign will help to inform and reassure, and gives consumers the information they need to play an active role in protecting their personal details.”

The campaign begins on 20 October, and will include a series of credit card shaped print advertisements appearing in national and regional press.  These will be supported with online banners featuring on selected shopping websites until the end of December. 

Sandra Quinn, director of communications at APACS, said:

"We are expecting to see another increase in online shopping this Christmas, and there is absolutely no reason why customers shouldn’t shop in complete confidence. Following the simple advice in our Be Card Smart Online campaign can help minimise the chances of becoming a victim of card fraud – we don't think twice about protecting our card details in the real world, so why treat them any differently online?”

ENDS

Low resolution images from the advertising campaign have been provided.  For further information or high resolution images, or a photo of Vernon Coaker MP promoting the initiative, contact the APACS Press Office on 020 7711 6251.

Notes to editors:

1 APACS is the trade body that gives banks, building societies and card issuers a forum where they can work together on non-competitive issues. We help manage the way that businesses and individuals in the UK move their money around - this covers cash, credit and debit cards, cheques and automated payments such as Direct Debits, salary payments and the new Faster Payments Service launched on 27 May for online/phone banking transactions and standing orders. We lead the fight against banking fraud and twice a year we publish figures on payment industry fraud losses.

2 Research was conducted during the period 2 - 4 September 2008 through an online panel. 991 respondents took part aged between 18yrs and 64yrs. The research also highlighted the following:

* Keep your PC protected - 12 per cent of us don’t have up-to-date anti-virus software, 12 per cent don’t havea firewall enabled, and 27 per cent don’t use the latest operating system or download browser software updates.
* Look for the padlock symbol - one in four of us don’t check if the website we are shopping on has a padlock symbol (26 per cent).
* Register your cards - nearly half of us don’t have a card registered with Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code (47 per cent).
* Always log out - one in four of us don’t log off after making an online purchase (26 per cent).

3 Other APACS online shopping data, taken from our annual Consumer Payments Survey that relates to the second half of 2007, shows:

• Almost 40 million adults now have access to the internet, compared with 29 million five years ago.
• 30 million adults bought something online last year, which equates to 77% of adults with access to the internet.
• Adults buying online made an average of 24 purchases last year, which has risen from 10 purchases per year in 2003.