§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the actions taken by(a) his Department and (b) the bodies for which he is responsible to combat fraud conducted over the internet. [178927]
§ Paul GogginsGovernment seeks to educate computer users about the risks of fraud facilitated using the internet. The Home Office website provides advice on avoiding internet fraud, while the Department of Trade and Industry has a campaign entitled "Don't be a Mug" advising on scams and rip-offs, including internet scams.
The Home Office has recently launched the 'e-tailing mini site', which forms part of the Crime Reduction Website. This provides information to help both businesses and consumers protect themselves specifically when using the internet. We have also recently published, jointly with APACS, a leaflet on safe credit card use. This includes a section on using cards safely over the internet.
The Home Office is represented on an industry-led Steering Group which aims to tackle 'Card Not Present' (CNP) fraud (which includes fraud over the internet). We support practical measures being introduced by the industry to increase levels of security for internet transactions. These include Address Verification Services (AVS), Card Security Code (CSC), Mastercard Secure Code and Verified by Visa which are already making a significant impact on CNP Fraud.
There is no specific organisation which has a specific mandate to combat fraud where it is facilitated utilising the internet.
598WThere are however a range of specialist units within forces which investigate fraud cases, regardless of the media used to commit or facilitate the offence, consulting computer crime units as appropriate in cases where technical expertise is required. Where cases involve serious and organised computer-enabled criminality at national and international levels the case may be dealt with by the National Hi Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) within the National Crime Squad.
The West African Organised Crime Section of the National Criminal Intelligence Service investigates cases of advance fee fraud—in which letters are widely distributed by post, fax and email—which commonly lead to fraud. personal identity theft and corporate impersonation. Thy also deal with cases of website spoofing and obtaining goods by deception by West African criminal groups.
Law enforcement is also engaged in public awareness and education campaigns. For instance in October 2003 NHTCU issued advice together with the British Bankers Association and Association of Payment and Card Services (APACS) on how the public could avoid phishing attacks.