Christmas credit card warnings

Shoppers at Birmingham's Bull Ring Shopping Centre are being warned of the increased dangers of credit card crime in the run up to Christmas.

Detectives from West Midlands Police's Economic Crime Unit will be at the shopping centre every weekend in the run up to Christmas.

Police say credit card crime cost the banking industry more than £424m during 2002 as well as causing great stress and inconvenience to credit card owners.

In particular, police say there has been a 41% rise in the incidence of "card not present" fraud where goods and services are ordered over the phone or on the internet using other people's credit card details.

'Guard your cards'

The police campaign - codenamed Operation Pavement - is supported by Barclaycard and the Association for Payment and Clearing Services (APACS).

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Dave Churchill said: "Guard your credit cards like you would cash.

"Keep them safe at all times, don't let them out of your sight, even when paying for goods and services.

"Any information with your account details on should be disposed of carefully and if possible shredded to prevent fraudsters getting hold of it.

"Report any losses straightaway as a criminal will probably start to use them immediately."

The West Midlands force's Economic Crime Unit is one of the country's leading fraud units specialising in financial investigation and fraud.