By Jonathan Russell
A fifth of people who fall victim to identity fraud are not getting reimbursed, according to Which?.
The consumer group said that £609.9 million was lost last year in fraud relating to cards, with card fraud at cashpoints rising by 31 per cent from 2007 to 2008.
Iain Richardson was refused a payout by Natwest when £2,000 was withdrawn on his card within minutes of it being stolen.
As his pin had been used, the bank said he had been negligent and the Financial Ombudsman Service rejected his claim as well.
Which? has explained that pins can be discovered by looking over someone's shoulder at a cash withdrawal machine and urged people to be very careful and shred bank statements.
Consumers have also been warned that they may suffer from a lessening of choice in the loan market.
Earlier this week, the Finance & Leasing Authority said that its members have reported a drop in consumer lending.
The decline from April 2008 to the same month in 2009 is almost 20 per cent.
