Sales among UK internet shoppers are expected to double, with online consumers more confident than last year's festive season.

But despite projected sales in excess of �1.7bn, consumers are still cautious about revealing personal information, fearing credit card fraud and bogus commercial sites, according to a poll commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The government is keen to encourage more internet shopping, advising consumers to use recommended websites, obtain suppliers' telephone numbers or postal addresses and keep copies of order forms or confirmation e-mails.

Do you fear online fraud? Have you been the victim of online credit card fraud? What precautions do you take to protect your personal details?

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The only times I've been a victim of fraud was from ordering a pizza over the phone

Les, USA/UK

Common sense prevails always - don't send bank info or card numbers in e-mails or instant messages. The only times I've been a victim of fraud was from ordering a pizza over the phone and giving my debit card number, and a rather sophisticated cheque fraud (which police think must have been someone who worked in the bank! Neither time was I out of pocket for long - there is insurance folks, and both times were real life not online. I shred all financial papers - never just throw them out, having more fear of real life than online fraud.
Les, USA/UK

I am a computer programmer and I have had my details used to get credit cards. I find it unbelievable that the only way to check that the person with a card is its owner is the signature on the back.
Tony, UK

I buy loads of stuff over the internet - books, CD's, computer games, clothes. The best bet for those who are unsure is to use reputable companies. Maybe it is a conspiracy by the high street stores who are scared of losing us to the cheaper (and hassle free) internet ordering companies....
Al Lewis, England, UK

I've been buying online since 1995 - airline tickets, toys for donkeys (really), car rental, hotel bookings, music, clothes, books, software, food, electronics, furniture, drink ... you name it. In that time I have never experienced any credit card fraud.
Daen de Leon, Denmark

I continue to shop online

Flynn, England

My credit card was hacked two years ago by an American who bought $500/�300 of internet time (very adventurous). I reported it to the ISP and the credit card company and while the inflated balance was a headache, I got the money back and got on with life. I continue to shop online, as no-one is going to stop me living my life and getting the best prices for goods.
Flynn, England

I always remember watching the head of the FBI's Fraud Department saying that even she would not use the Internet for shopping: that's enough for me! I would never give any of my bank details over the Internet.
Martin Smith, Scotland

Why not use something like the Cahoot webcard: when you want to buy something, Cahoot creates a one-off credit card for the transaction, that has a limit that you specify (typically a few pounds more than the total transaction), and can only be used once. The charge gets passed on to you by Cahoot, and is completely safe.
Alex, Oxford, UK

I have only had one case of credit card fraud and that was in a restaurant

Caron, England

Over the last few years I've done a lot of my Christmas shopping on the net as I hate going shopping at this time of year. In addition I book theatre tickets, flights, hotels and car hire using the internet. I have only had one case of credit card fraud and that was when I used my card in a restaurant. Someone changed the amount on the slip after I had signed and received a copy of the transaction.
caron, england

Biggest turn off for buying online is the delivery nonsense. Most can't deliver after 5pm when you are at home, so you end up having to find your package at a warehouse or post office - so you might as well buy from a shop in the first place.
Martin, UK

I've been buying via the internet for 4 years now (since I was 18). The only problem I've had was actually caused by my credit card company rather than the online site. The site called my card company to verify my details as a security precaution, but the card company thought this was sufficiently suspect that they stopped my card for a whole weekend!
Ian Cowley, UK

There's nothing wrong with using the Internet to find out about goods and services you might want to buy. However I protect myself against fraud by not having a credit card and by never entering any financial details to any website. Even if I order goods via email I find some other way to pay for them. So far, nobody has used the Internet to rip me off, and my bank account has stayed intact.
phil, uk

Online retailers are mostly completely incompetent. That is what really puts people off.

Adam, UK

All this stuff about fraud is just a red herring. The real reason why people do not shop on the internet more is that the online retailers (with a few splendid exceptions, like Amazon) are mostly completely incompetent. That is what really puts people off. I regularly do my shopping online with Sainsbury's, and they are totally incapable of turning up at the right time and delivering what I ordered, as are all their competitors that I have tried.
Adam, UK

You'd be mad to worry about making online transactions. If your card is used fraudulently on the internet, neither you or your bank take the loss. The risk is with the retailer who accepts payment without seeing the actual plastic and they are the ones who lose out if they don't perform identity checks on the person presenting the number. I'd give my number to any retailer but not my card!
Rob UK, UK

I regularly shop on-line at a range of 'stores', and I've never yet had cause to worry about any of them. Make sure you use sites which are reputable, and ask around for recommendations. The Which? Web Trader scheme is one source of these. The main problem with on-line shopping isn't fraud, it's the variable levels of customer support and long delivery times. Again, listen for recommendations.
Alan, UK

The key is to always use reputable companies

Name Here

I have shopped online for the past 5-6 years and have never experienced fraud. I have bought books, CDs, flowers, flights and financial services all online without a hitch. The key is to always use reputable companies with a reputation for good security. The benefits of shopping from the comfort of your own home rather than trying to fight your way through the crowds are inestimable. All my Christmas shopping this year has been done via the web and will continue to be done this way.
Anne, UK

I use a simple method to prevent online fraud. Firstly I have a credit card with a very low limit. I have one monthly bill charged to it automatically so I always get a statement, thereby preventing it being rerouted. When I shop online (which is rarely, admittedly) I use this card. Every month I know it will contain one regular bill and my online purchases, so anything out of the ordinary is very quickly spotted.
John B, UK

Using your card for online transactions is a lot safer then walking along the high street with that same card and using it in shops and restaurants.
Lew, UK

It depends on the nature of the business. I happily shop online using reputable companies. I'm much less confident about others though.
Nick, UK

I would always send sensitive data such as a credit card numbers over several emails

Paolo Sammut, UK

I am certainly cautious and do my best not to leave myself exposed to fraud. For example I would always send sensitive data such as a credit card numbers over several emails, none of which hold all the data. However, things have improved recently with the introduction of services such as paypal, so that I need not keep supplying my details to every seller. What I would like to see is compulsory addressing, so that online retailers can only mail goods to the address of the credit card holder. That will stop the vast majority of online fraud in one swoop.
Paolo Sammut, UK

Definitely not. I am more likely to trust an online retailer with 128 bit encryption than someone behind a counter at a petrol station!
Phill S, UK

Yawn. When will people realise sending your credit card details over the net using 128bit protection is far safer than ringing up any old telephone that could be tapped by some kid with access to a local electronics store? Or when you give your credit card to the waitress at a restaurant? This is the 21st century for goodness sake.
Richard Pasco, UK

The compensation for loss seems almost non existent

K Budden, England

Of course I fear it. This is the only reason why I do not buy anything on the internet. I would like to open an internet bank account and do most of my shopping via the internet but the security seems poor, the possibility of fraud seems high and the compensation for loss seems almost non existent. Why not put all transactions through a central clearing house that would be able to look for multiple fraud transactions and would always compensate for losses up to say �5,000.
K Budden, England

Giving your credit card details to a reputable supplier (ie Amazon) on a secure site is much safer than reading them to a stranger over the phone, or even letting someone take your card out of your sight in a restaurant for example. People are put off internet purchases by scare stories in the media.
Steve Hodgson, UK

I worry about online fraud no more than I worry about going to a restaurant and having the waiter or waitress take my card somewhere and do the transaction. It's exactly the same.
Rob Morris, UK

I shred all my financial papers and records before throwing them out, but I frequently shop online. I suppose that means I don't fear online fraud.
Ian Harvey, UK