Internet banking is less secure than having a traditional account, claims one of Britain's leading anti- fraud police officers.
Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Head emphasised that the trend in online fraud is rising, despite a dip in losses by banks in the first six months of the year. The senior officer, who heads the economic crime directorate at the City of London Police, said: "My professional judgement is that it's safer to do traditional banking when you deal with people face to face. That is not a judgement on the convenience or otherwise of how people do their banking."
He told the Commons Treasury select committee that he would like more resources to tackle the growing threat of people being swindled online.
However, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) stressed that internet banking is "very secure". A spokeswoman commented that customers can use it with confidence if they are careful with their personal information and keep their computer software up to date. The BBA also advises people never to respond to unsolicited emails, alerts or adverts which ask for bank details or to call numbers on these messages.






