BLACKBURN MP and Home Secretary Jack Straw is drawing on his own experience of credit card fraud to make sure Britain takes a leading role in combating hi-tech crime. Mr Straw fell foul of so-called credit card "skimming" while on holiday in Italy three years ago. It is believed unscrupulous sales staff took the details off his card and copied them onto a blank card before going on a shopping spree, all at the Home Secretary's expense.

Now Mr Straw has talked with his foreign counterparts in the G8 summit to try to combat cross-border criminals, especially where hi-tech equipment is involved, such as the equipment used to copy his card.

Mr Straw said: "Criminals can transfer or delete information at the touch of a button.

"That is why we have to react quickly when another member state asks for help so we can sort this problem out.

"Overcoming the barriers of countries' separate jurisdictions, so we can assist each other, is a major challenge but one that needs to be met to make sure other people don't fall foul of similar crimes."

According to APACS - the Association for Payment Clearing Services - card fraud cost the British public just under £100 million last year.

Mr Wynne Evans, of APACS, warned users: "Counterfeiting, such as the incident Mr Straw found himself in, is a problem.

"Completely fake cards can be manufactured from scratch, or authentic cards can be tampered with to give them a new identity.

"It takes a matter of minutes for fraudsters to build up huge bills on other people's credit cards." Mr Evans added that shop staff should always make sure the name on the card corresponded with the name that appeared on till rolls alongside the credit card number. "If anybody is ever unsure, the relevant authorities should be informed as soon as possible to make sure as little inconvenience as possible is caused to the real card holders and shopkeepers alike. "Fraud of this nature is not a victimless offence. It causes personal distress and is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK."

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