§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers there are to impose penalties on people perpetrating phishing frauds in internet banking; and what the penalties are. [138596]
§ Caroline FlintI have been asked to reply.
The term "phishing" has recently been coined to refer to the practice of sending e-mails which falsely claim to originate from banks, asking customers to re-register or "re-activate" their accounts at a replica bank website, with the aim of using the information provided to transfer money out of these accounts.
This is an offence (or attempted offence) of fraud and can be prosecuted under the Theft Acts 1968 and 1978 or under the common law of conspiracy to defraud. The maximum penalty for the main fraud offences (including attempts to commit them) is 10 years' imprisonment.