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20 June 2006
Debit and credit card fraud committed abroad on UK cards has fallen for the fourth consecutive year, revealed payments association Apacs.
But while the cost of this kind of card fraud fell to £82.8 million in 2005, down from £138.4 million in 2001, British holidaymakers should still be careful when travelling abroad with their cards, the association warned.
Last year Britons spent £20.8 billion abroad on UK-issued plastic cards, with £20.4 billion put on the plastic for holiday gifts and meals, and £343 million in cash taken out of overseas cash machines.
The association has produced a guide on how to use credit and debit cards safely when abroad.
"More and more each year our cards rank alongside passports and sun cream as holiday essentials," said Sandra Quinn, director of communications at Apacs.
"After all, we spent nearly £21 billion abroad last year, and this figure is set to increase in 2006. It's important that cardholders follow the simple advice set out in our guide and use their cards safely when they are abroad."
Simple measures like using a hidden money belt to store cards and checking statements carefully on your return can help make things more difficult for international card thieves, the association advised.
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