Phishing up 200 per cent in first quarter, warns APACS

One in three consumer PCs remain unprotected against spyware

Attempts to steal card details are booming

Successful email-based fraud is falling but phishing attempts surged to over 10,000 between January and March, said bank payment clearing association Apacs.

The body estimated that successful email fraud dropped by one third last year to £22 million. The number of people who said they delete phishing emails or ignore the presented calls to action rose from 75 per cent to 82 per cent.

Recent email scams include the targeting of company directors with fake subpeonas and Mastercard users who were promised discounts on future purchases.