As long as credit cards have been around, an opportunity for fraud has followed.
But the introduction of online purchasing has seen a rise in not only the opportunity for fraudulent activity, but a new level of scamming technique too.
Jose George, general manager for Canstar, a New Zealand and Australian online research service, said we are exposing ourselves to more risk as our propensity to transact online increases.
"Obviously as our propensity to transact online increases, we are exposing ourselves to more risk, but there are things we can do to minimise that danger," George said.