Internet users in the UK have been warned that they could become the victim of online fraud unless they take care to protect their financial data.

According to Neil Munroe, external affairs director at Equifax, the internet is the primary area of focus for people aiming to defraud innocent consumers and potentially add to their struggles in becoming debt free.

Mr Munroe maintains that while consumers have generally become more familiar with how to protect their personal information offline, there is work to be done to raise awareness of how to do so in cyberspace.

“Whether it’s Facebook and other social networking sites or sophisticated phishing or emails pretending to be your bank, those are the areas where people have really got to watch out and take some care,” he said.

Research carried out by CPP in February found that people living in London are among those most likely to fall victim debit or credit card fraud in the UK.

Credit card users around the UK are increasingly looking to secure themselves a better deal on plastic borrowing, it has been suggested.

According to the customer experience assessment firm Global Reviews, the increasingly dire debt management situation for many British families has focussed more attention on getting a good credit card deal.

In addition, the tendency among consumers with credit card debt is to track down a more competitive arrangement via the internet, where standards of service from financial firms can vary considerably.

“As household budgets tighten across the UK, many credit card customers will start to notice the rates they have been paying on their credit cards and begin to look around for better deals,” said the director of Global Reviews Adam Goodvach.

Figures from Credit Action suggest that close to 300 British consumers are declared bankrupt or insolvent every day.