More than half of the UK population still don’t shop online, according to a survey by secure electronic transaction providers Cybersource.
The survey revealed that whilst Brits are more likely to spend online than anybody in Europe, with £12.8bn spent online last year, many still prefer the personal touch that comes with High Street shopping.
Security was also a factor for 41% of those surveyed who didn’t shop online, with fears over credit card fraud, phishing attacks and other online security threats being an off-putting factor. Of all the respondents, 66% admitted to be at least concerned over security and a third of respondents revealed that they, or someone that they know, had been a victim of credit card fraud.
“With the abundance of media coverage about security breaches, it is not surprising that some shoppers are frightened off,” said Simon Stokes, managing director of CyberSource.
“The challenge to the industry is educating consumers to shop safely, to minimise their exposure to fraud. As more people gain access to the internet and realise the convenience, value, and safety of shopping online, I believe we’ll see a higher percentage trying and staying with this form of purchase.”
UK shoppers are however taking some basic precautions to protect themselves from fraud when shopping online. 68% of online shoppers have now signed up for the MasterCard SecureCode or Verified by Visa programmes, which provide password security for online credit card users. 57% use credit cards for the additional protection they offer, and 86% look for the secure padlock icon on a website before proceeding with a purchase.
