Amount stolen in card frauds this year to hit €14.5m

ALMOST €15 million is expected to be stolen in credit and ATM card fraud this year, according to new figures.

Garda statistics show such fraud amounted to €13m in 2005 and expect the figure to grow to around €14.5m by the end of this year. ATM fraud for 2005 came to €4m.

Publishing the information, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said payment card fraud increased by around 30% per annum up until 2002 and had fallen slightly since.