Lloyds TSB is to introduce automated telephone alerts to warn customers of suspicious transactions on their current accounts.

The technology, called First Alert, is designed to work alongside Lloyds TSB's fraud detection systems, automatically calling customers whenever and wherever card fraud is suspected on their account.

The system has been in use for credit card customers since 2005 and has proved so successful in tackling fraud that it is now being extended to cover all debit card customers.

'First Alert will enable us to spot fraud more quickly so we can put things right for customers faster than ever before,' said Gerrard Schmid, Lloyds TSB director of transaction banking.

'The system proved a huge success on credit cards and by extending it to our debit card customers we're planning to crack down further on card fraud.'

Lloyds TSB customers will receive an automated phone call, whenever the bank notices a potential fraud on their account. The message customers hear will ask them if they recognise the transaction in question.

If the customer thinks fraud has taken place they will be transferred directly to a Lloyds TSB call handler who will then help freeze the account and organise a refund. Where customers recognise the transaction, they will be able to confirm it is genuine and end the call.

The new system will dramatically increase the speed at which fraudulent transactions are spotted and dealt with by the bank and will allow more customers to be contacted directly where fraud is suspected.

First Alert will help clamp down on 'card not present' fraud, where card details are used fraudulently over the phone, online or for mail order purchases, and counterfeit fraud, where card magnetic stripe details are copied onto a cloned card before being used.

'We're constantly developing and launching new technologies to fight fraud on every front, and the expansion of our First Alert system to debit cards, will be a real asset,' said Schmid.