Card Watch is a UK banking industry initiative that aims to raise awareness of card fraud prevention. It is managed by APACS, the UK payments association.
CARD Watch and its logo have been registered trademarks in Europe and the UK since April 1999, and are owned by APACS (Administration) Limited.
What do we do?
The Card Watch campaign aims to increase awareness about the problem of card fraud and what can be done to prevent it by:
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Providing fraud prevention publications, including the Spot & Stop Card Fraud.
- Encouraging staff vigilance and awareness to aid in the prevention of card crime.
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Providing fraud prevention advice for cardholders.
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Providing education and support to police and crime reduction officers.
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Giving advice and assistance to other fraud prevention organisations such as Crimestoppers.
Timeline and milestones for Card Watch
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Jan 1995 |
Counter Attack issue 1 published |
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Sept 1995 |
How to Counter Retailer Crime published |
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June 1996 |
A Retailers Guide to Cheque Card Acceptance published |
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Oct 1997 |
Card Force issue 1 published |
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Nov 1997 |
Retailer Education Guide launched |
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Jan 1998 |
Police Operational Guidance and Contact Manual first published |
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Sept 1998 |
Fraud Intelligence Bureau trial begins with the objective of bringing together intelligence on skimming from both the banking industry and the police |
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1998 |
Enhanced Industry Hot Card File expanded to over 80,000 retail outlets and prevented more than 100,000 cases of attempted fraudulent use |
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Spring 1999 |
Chip card roll-out officially commences |
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June 1999 |
Fraud Intelligence Bureau made into a permanent unit |
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1999 |
Industry Hot Card File prevented over 240,000 cases of attempted fraudulent use |
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Jan 2000 |
Skimming Booklet first edition published for use by the police |
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April 2001 |
www.cardwatch.org.uk goes live for the first time |
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March 2001 |
Spot & Stop Card Fraud training and information programme launched |
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2002 |
www.chipandpin.co.uk launched by the Programme Management Organisation to provide the latest news and information on the roll-out of chip and PIN in the UK |
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Jan 2002 |
Stickers on cash machines warning public to be on guard when withdrawing money at hotspot cash machines in Westminster. Co-branded Crimestoppers and Card Watch |
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April 2002 |
Card Fraud the Facts 2001 published. The first edition of this useful guide |
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April 2002 |
Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit is launched in partnership with the Home Office |
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April 2002 |
www.dcpcu.org.uk launched to provide information about the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, who they are, what they do, and how to prevent cheque and payment card fraud |
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End 2002 |
Recommended Security Guidelines for Stand-alone ATMS developed by APACS, in conjunction with the ATM Security Working Group |
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Early 2003 |
Chip and PIN public trial is conducted in Northampton |
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June 2003 |
Identity Fraud - the UK Manual published in conjunction with the Finance & Leasing Association and CIFAS and endorsed by the Home Office |
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July 2003 |
Best Practice When Using a Cash Machine launched - advice messages for consumers to observe |
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Sept 2003 |
Best Practice Guidelines for Card Present Transaction for Retailers: Code 10 booklet produced to provide best practice guidelines for retailers making Code 10 calls |
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Oct 2003 |
Chip and PIN national roll-out begins |
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Nov 2003 |
Spot & Stop CNP Fraud for CNP Merchants produced as a guide for retailers to help protect businesses against card-not-present fraud, and a training pack to help those who train staff in accepting CNP transactions |
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March 2004 |
UK Domestic Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme Rules published |
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March 2004 |
Stop & Spot Cheque Guarantee Card Fraud 24 hour helpline card published |
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March 2004 |
Keep Your Cards Safe leaflet published. A joint venture with the Home Office |
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April 2004 |
Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit achieves permanent status and has remit broadened to encompass categories of serious and organised cheque and plastic crime, including ATM fraud, account take-over / application fraud, mail-intercept, cheque and card-not-present fraud. Banking industry assumes full financial responsibility for the Unit. |
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June 2004 |
Cash Machine Crime Directory produced. Designed to help law enforcement officers to combat cash machine fraud |
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July 2004 |
www.identity-theft.org.uk launched as a co-branded initiative between Card Watch and the Home Office to provide consumers with practical advice on how to protect themselves from being a victim of ID fraud |
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Aug 2004 |
Spot & Stop Card Fraud Interactive Training launched on www.cardwatch.org.uk for retailers and members of the public to build their card fraud awareness |
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Aug 2004 |
Spot & Stop Training Video translated into Greek for use by retail staff at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens |
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Oct 2004 |
www.banksafeonline.org.uk launched as a one-stop advice site for bank customers, about staying safe online |
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2004 |
Anti-fraud Toolkit developed for the banking industry throughout Europe |
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March 2005 |
Spot & Stop Cash Machine Crime leaflet for branch staff published. The leaflet outlines fraudsters' modus operandi and provides advice for branch counter staff to follow if a device is discovered on a machine at their branch, or if a device is handed to a member of staff |
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May 2005 |
CNP e-learning interactive training launched on www.cardwatch.org.uk for CNP retailers to build their CNP fraud knowledge |
Contact information
To obtain further information, order publications or for any other kind of assistance please go to the Contact Us page.
