Dell offers guarantee against online fraud

Dell has become the first computer retailer to offer a financial guarantee against online fraud. Customers in the US who can prove that their credit card details were abused following a purchase at Dell.com can claim up to $50 compensation.

Dell's corporate spokesman, Bob Kaufman, said: "Credit card companies in the US already compensate for fraud in full. But our Online Secure Shopping Guarantee covers the penalties that the credit card company then charges the consumer. We want consumers to have the same confidence shopping online as they would at a Dell store," he explained.

David Rodwell of the UK Consumers Association, told Silicon News: "It is very unusual for a retailer to assume liability for a purchase. This must be a specifically online measure. It is much harder to trace an Internet purchase than one in the real world.

"It would be great if retailers here followed Dell's lead - especially for international transactions," Rodwell continued. "We have been hoping retailers will stop just talking about their good security and actually commit to it."

Dell would not say whether it plans to expand the policy outside the US. But a UK spokeswoman told Silicon News that Gordon Ballantyne, Dell's European Internet director, is currently researching the company's European position.