Shock rise in card fraud.

(From Northampton Chronicle and Echo)

CREDIT card hoaxers have turned Northamptonshire into the UK's second biggest fraud hotspot - despite the county helping pioneer the introduction of chip and PIN.

Figures by the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) reveal debit and credit card fraud rose in the region by 32 per cent last year with fraudsters pocketing nearly GBP20million, compared to GBP15 million stolen in 2003.

Businesses and shop owners had hoped state-of-the-art technology requiring the card holders to enter a four-digit pin number to complete transactions would help cut crime but criminals are now intercepting the post before …