Consumers are being urged to use common sense as the number of phishing incidents continues to rise.

Apacs, the UK payments association, warned today that the number of attacks in the past three months is up by more than 200 per cent compared to the same period last year – more than 10,000 incidents have been reported in the first quarter of 2008.

Yet despite the increasing threat, one in five people don’t follow common sense precautions such as not clicking on links in suspicious emails, according to Apacs. This means that although most consumers (82 per cent) are more aware and do not respond to phishing emails, the fraudsters are still duping others successfully.

Apacs director of communications Sandra Quinn said: “Although online banking fraud losses fell last year, the fraudsters clearly aren’t giving up. Phishing scams continue to rise and are becoming ever more sophisticated, which is why we want to remind people to remain wise to them.

“The advice is simple: remember that your bank will never send emails asking you to disclose Pin numbers, login details or complete passwords – if you receive an email of this nature you should delete it. If you think your details have been compromised, contact your bank immediately.”

To avoid phishing scams, Apacs' advice to consumers includes always being suspicious of unsolicited emails that claim to be from their bank, never giving away login details, such as passwords or Pins, and always accessing an internet bank account by typing the bank's address into a web browser, not by clicking on email links.

Phishing emails can be reported to Apacs by emailing the organisation at reports@banksafeonline.org.uk. Bank Safe Online can also give further help and advice about phishing and preventing online banking fraud.