Early Xmas for Britain's Card Thieves

YORK, England, December 9 - Britons are being warned to be vigilant with their credit and debit cards
this Christmas as criminals target the hordes of shoppers returning to the
high street.

New figures from life assistance company CPP (www.cpp.co.uk),
predict that over 315,000 shoppers risk falling prey to card fraud during the
festive season, with the average sum set to be over GBP600.(1)

This retail fraud epidemic is being fuelled by shoppers coming back to UK
high streets. With an average Christmas present budget of GBP395, Brits are
rejecting online to favour street shopping. Sixty-five per cent will be
buying at least half their gifts in person, while almost two-fifths will
purchase the majority of presents on the high street, compared to just a
quarter who will do so online.

This return to the high street is being fuelled in part by concerns about
postal delays - one in four is worried that online orders won't arrive in
time for Christmas. CPP (www.cpp.co.uk) warns that the number of lost
and stolen cards will peak on 18 December as stressed out last-minute
shoppers become less careful with their bank cards.(2)

Three quarters (75 per cent) of shoppers find the experience stressful,
which psychologists show makes them more susceptible to theft. The hurly
burly of festive shopping also means people lose track of their spending,
leaving them at risk from fraud as suspicious transactions can go unnoticed.
A third of shoppers admit they lose track of spending and a fifth don't check
their receipts against bank statements after they get home.

Dr Glenn Wilson, Visiting Professor of Psychology at Gresham College
said: "Last minute Christmas shopping on the high street is a stressful
experience. Stress affects people in many ways, both physically and
psychologically. Heart rate and blood pressure rise, and there is an increase
in anxiety, distractibility, confusion and forgetfulness, all of which makes
people more likely to lose things, such as their bank cards, and be more at
risk of theft".

Sarah Blaney, card fraud expert at CPP (www.cpp.co.uk), said:
"More and more consumers are aware of the risks when shopping online and are
vigilant about keeping their passwords and personal details safe. However, we
often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the high street: a
combination of crowds and pressure to find the perfect present can lead to
our attention wandering.

"Retail fraud remains a problem despite the introduction of Chip and PIN
verification. In the first six months of 2009 it totalled nearly GBP35m (3).
However, lost and stolen cards can be used to make illegal purchases online,
which is the largest type of card fraud totalling GBP134m in the first half
of the year.

"It is important people protect their PIN numbers and check their
receipts against their bank statements on a regular basis. We all need to be
responsible to stop fraud. Card protection can give shoppers valuable peace
of mind, helping them to cancel and replace their cards immediately should
the worst happen and provide fraud victim support."

    Key statistics

    - The average sum stolen from card fraud victims stands at GBP623
    - A fifth of card fraud victims report having over GBP1000 fraudulently
      taken from their bank accounts
    - 65 per cent will be buying at least half of their gifts in person
      this Christmas
    - 37 per cent will purchase the majority on the high street
      compared to 27 per cent online
    - 25 per cent of Brits are concerned that online orders won't
      arrive in time for Christmas
    - 75 per cent find Christmas shopping stressful
    - 33 per cent admit they've lost track of spending over Christmas
    - 20 per cent don't check their receipts against bank statements
    - 10 per cent confess they have thrown away receipts
      containing card details

    Top tips from CPP (www.cpp.co.uk) to help avoid being a
    victim of card fraud

    1) Don't carry multiple debit/credit cards in a wallet - only
       carry the essential cards you need

    2) Don't leave belongings unattended while shopping

    3) Don't carry debit/credit cards loose in a bag or pocket

    4) If your cards are registered with a Card Protection company
       make sure you have their emergency loss reporting number

    5) Don't ever write down your PIN number

    6) Don't let a shop assistant take your debit/credit card out
       of sight - they could be copied or cloned

    7) Don't let someone else take money out on your behalf

     Check your receipts against your statements when you get home

    9) If you are concerned your cards may have been lost or stolen, contact
       your bank immediately to get the card cancelled

    10) Make sure your bank has up-to-date contact details for
        you, including your mobile phone number in case they need to check if
        transactions are genuine

    Notes to Editor

    (1) According to online research commissioned by CPP
        (www.cpp.co.uk) through Opinion Matters among 1524 UK
        cardholders the average sum fraudulently taken following bank cards
        being lost or stolen is GBP623 - based on a sample of 100 card
        fraud victims. Over the period December 2008 - January 2009,
        36,356 cards were lost out of 5.2 million CPP
        card customers. This amounts to 0.07%. Extrapolating this to the UK
        population 0.07 per cent of the UK card population is 0.07 x
        45,000,000 = 315,000 victims.

    (2) Research among CPP's (www.cpp.co.uk) 5.2 million policyholders
        for Card Protection shows that the last Friday before Christmas has
        been the day for the highest number of cards lost and stolen over
        2006, 2007 and 2008.

    (3) Figures according to Fraud - The Facts 2009 -
        www.cardwatch.org.uk from APACS, the UK Payments
        Administration

Research Methodology

Online research was carried out by Opinion Matters amongst 1524 UK
adults. The research was conducted between the 18th and 23rd November 2009.

The CPP (www.cpp.co.uk) Group Plc

The CPP Group Plc (CPP) is an international marketing services business
offering bespoke customer management solutions to multi-sector business
partners designed to enhance their customer revenue, engagement and loyalty,
whilst at the same time reducing cost to deliver improved profitability.

This is underpinned by the delivery of a portfolio of complementary Life
Assistance products, designed to help our mutual customers cope with the
anxieties associated with the challenges and opportunities of everyday life.

Whether our customers have lost their wallets, been a victim of identity
fraud or looking for lifestyle perks, CPP can help remove the hassle from
their lives leaving them free to enjoy life. Globally, our Life Assistance
products and services are designed to simplify the complexities of everyday
living whether these affect personal finances, home, travel, personal data or
future plans. When it really matters, Life Assistance enables people to live
life and worry less.

Established in 1980, CPP has 11 million customers and more than 200
business partners across Europe, North and South America and Asia Pacific and
employs 2,000 employees who handle 16 million consumer sales and service
conversations each year.

In 2008, Group revenue was GBP259.5 million, an increase of more than 15
per cent over the previous year. This is more than five times the sales level
of 2000.

What We Do:

CPP provides a range of assistance products and services that allow our
business partners to forge closer relationships with their customers.

We have a solution for many eventualities, including:

    - Insuring our customers' mobile phones

    - Protecting the payment cards in our customers' wallets and purses,
      should these be lost or stolen

    - Providing assistance and protection if a customer's keys are lost or
      stolen

    - Providing advice, insurance and assistance to protect customers against
      the insidious crime of identity fraud

    - Offering advice to people considering legal action and cover for the
      costs involved in taking action on a range of legal issues

    - Assisting customers with their travel emergencies

    - Monitoring the credit status of our customers

    CPP is an award winning organisation:

    - Finalist in the National Insurance Fraud Awards, Counter Fraud
      Initiative of the Year category, 2009

    - Finalist in the European Contact Centre Awards, Large Team and Advisor
      of the Year categories, 2009

    - Named in the Sunday Times 2008 PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100

    - Finalists in the National Business Awards, 3i Growth Strategy category,
      2008

    - Finalist in the National Business Awards, Business of the Year
      category, 2007, 2009 and Highly Commended in 2008

    - Named in the Sunday Times 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 HSBC Top Track 250
      companies

    - Regional winner of the National Training Awards, 2007

    - Winner of the BITC Health, Work and Well-Being Award, 2007

    - Highly Commended in the UK National Customer Service Awards, 2006

    - Winner of the Tamworth Community Involvement Award, 2006. Finalist in
      2008

    - Highly Commended in The Press Best Link Between Business and Education,
      2005 and 2006. Winner in 2007

    - Finalist in the National Business Awards, Innovation category, 2005

    For more information on CPP click on www.cpp.co.uk

For more information or to arrange a time for interview with identity
theft expert Sarah Blaney, please call Band & Brown Communications:

- Eoghan Hughes - +44(0)20-7419-6976

- Hester Decouz - +44(0)20-7419-7339

For more information or to arrange a time for interview with identity theft expert Sarah Blaney, please call Band & Brown Communications: - Eoghan Hughes - +44(0)20-7419-6976 / +44(0)7852-881-983; - Hester Decouz - +44(0)20-7419-7339 / +44(0)7963-187029