Credit card scam targets Christmas shoppers

UNWITTING shoppers could be funding organised crime and even terrorism this Christmas by allowing their bank card details to fall into the wrong hands.

Banks and retailers are expecting to have to pick up a tab of up to €12 million for fraud losses involving cash cards, credit cards and Laser transactions this year.

But they are also bracing themselves for an upsurge in card scams operated from overseas in the coming months as criminals thwarted by new high-security cards in Britain turn their attentions to Ireland where the new card technology has yet to be introduced.