And it’s the same in Europe

Card fraud in the European Union is worth an estimated €600 million and grew by 50 per cent last year according to the European Commission. EU heads of state have repeatedly discussed the problem and last called for action at the March 2000 Lisbon Council. The Commission recently announced that while the problem is principally for the payments systems industry to handle, it would seek to do its part to “foster a coherent, global approach to crime prevention” through a new Action Plan. Drafted in consultation with the payment card industry, national authorities, retailers, network operators and consumer groups, it aims primarily at greater co-operation between the interested groups. An experts group is to be set up at EU level and a programme of meetings will be timetabled to consider five main areas: technological improvements; enhanced information-sharing; better educational material; co-operation and training; specific fraud prevention measures; and strengthened contact with non-EU countries. Proposals include: