Brits still fall for phishing scams

A quarter of online banking customers would open emails that claim to be from their bank, despite advice from security experts.

Almost 10 per cent would even act on an email's instructions if it warned about urgent security issues with their bank.

According to financial-comparison site Money.co.uk, a third of Brits surveyed admitted they don't know how to identify the fake emails that cyber-criminals use to steal online banking details.

Online banking fraud losses totalled £52.5m in 2008 – a 132 per cent increase from 2007 losses, according to figures from APACS, the UK payments association.

Chris Morling, manager director of Money.co.uk, said: "It is a surprise to find that so many people are still unaware that fraudsters use fake emails to trick people into giving away their online banking security details."

"The reality is that, while banks do email their customers from time to time, they rarely ask for a response, and never ask customers to reveal personal information or security details."

Money.co.uk said it also found that young internet users were more likely to open an email from their bank warning about an urgent online banking security issue than older surfers.

For advice on phishing scams, read our online security guides.

www.money.co.uk