Internet users feel more at risk from banking fraud

The research, which was sponsored by IT fraud specialists Detica, found that around 60% of banking customers are concerned their bank accounts might be at risk of fraud, but fewer than half say their bank has provided them with information and advice.

The Ipsos MORI survey, which took in responses from more than 1000 adults in the UK, discovered that 34% of UK adults feel more at risk of banking fraud than ever before – the most pessimistic response amongst European respondents, says the company.

Analysing the research shows that France, Germany, Italy and Sweden had lowest proportion who feel more at risk from fraud on their bank account than before (22% of respondents in Sweden, 25% of respondents in France and 28% in both Italy plus Germany).

Outside of Europe, the only country polling a higher percentile than Britain was Australia, where a sizeable 43% felt more at risk than ever before, compared to 33% of Americans and 29% of Canadians.

When asked how concerned they are that their bank account might currently be at risk of fraud, around three in five British respondents (60%) said they were fairly or very concerned.

The level of concern was lower in Sweden, the US, Canada and France - 15%, 48%, 49% and 54% respectively - but was comparable to Italy (61%) and the highest in Australia, where the figure reached 70%.

So who is to blame in the UK?

Researchers found that the majority of British bank customers put the blame squarely on bank' shoulders, with 61% saying all or most of the responsibility for protecting accounts from fraud lies with the banks.

In terms of how the banks dealt with fraud and whether British banking customers feel happy with the assistance their bank provides, fewer than half (43%) agree that their bank has given them information and advice to keep their money safe and almost half (49%) would like to know more about their bank's fraud prevention solutions.

Although one in 20% of UK respondents had experienced actual or suspected fraud, 91% of these did not vote with their feet and walk away to another provider as a result.

Commenting on the findings, Imam Hoque, Detica's director, said that, despite the significant progress that the retail banks have made, fraud clearly remains of real concern for a significant number of British banking customers.

"And although British customers are relatively loyal at the moment, the banks have a challenge ahead of them both to engage customers in the long term fight against fraud and also to ensure the emerging European trend of consumers voting with their feet doesn't repeat itself here", he said.

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