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ClickandBuy, which offers payment processing services to more than 14,000 online merchants across 26 different countries, will now be able to offer their retailers increased security and assurance that the customers they are dealing with are who they say they are – and that they are therefore authorised to make the required payment. What this means for the consumer is a significantly reduced risk of someone else being able to make transactions using their card details on sites supported by ClickandBuy.

Last year’s GB Trust Index revealed that 17% of consumers believe online retail is the least trustworthy sector – mainly due to poor practices in managing and verifying personal identity information. In addition, YouGov research in April 2009, sponsored by ClickandBuy, also revealed that 83% of us think the number of people trying to commit fraud on the Internet is increasing as more people around the world use the Web. Less than half of us are totally confident that our credit card details are secure when entered online.

Richard Law, CEO at GB Group, says: “With consumers increasingly concerned about the prevalence of card and identity fraud, the partnership between GB Group and ClickandBuy means that shoppers now have a means of paying for goods online that does not require them to provide sensitive card and identity information direct to the retailer. This not only takes consumer protection against ID fraud one step further, but it also provides consumers with increased peace of mind when transacting online.”

Before any transaction is authorised, it will be monitored for signs of risk (e.g. card type is known to be widely used by fraudsters) and if there is deemed to be any risk at all to the consumer – or merchant – a full identity check will be carried out instantly and unobtrusively at the point of sale.

GB Group has a strong history in helping companies manage risk through robust identity management processes. The Chester-based plc already supports nearly 90% of the online gaming market in the verification and authentication of players and their credit or debit cards. It has also been working with mobile phone giant, O2 since 2004 where it has helped reduce churn and third party fraud by over 40%.

Dr Christoph Kurpinski, CTO of the ClickandBuy Group states; “GB Group was an obvious choice for us, as they are the market leaders in identity management for both UK and international citizens. We have a responsibility to reassure shoppers from anywhere in the world that their personal details and payment cards are not at risk during the shopping experience. With GB, we have been able to extend the level of assurance we can offer our shoppers – and retailers – to a platinum level service. With GB’s technology embedded within our checkout processes, we believe ClickandBuy is now safer than any other means of paying for goods on the Web.”

Law added: “Identity management is the fundamental enabler of online commerce. We are delighted that ePayment providers like ClickandBuy are now taking the issue of identity management so seriously. Working together, we will be able to offer both shoppers and retailers increased confidence that the transactions they are making via the Web are safe, authentic and that the person making the transaction is authorised to do so.”