E-Consumer Protection

Access to shopping on line provides huge opportunities for those with internet access. We are, however, very concerned about the opportunity for fraud that the internet provides and the speed with which opportunities for scams and frauds are taken up. For example, scams were targeted at people with potential tax underpayments as soon as news of the tax problem was made public. This happens in all mediums but the internet provides speed and anonymity. Being able to find problem traders and fraudsters must be key to any strategy for e-consumer protection, if the objective of increased levels of sustainable trust and a UK position of global leadership in online enforcement are to be met.