Criminals are trading consumers' credit card details for 50p - less than the cost of a can of cola, a new report reveals.
Credit card details are being bought and sold by criminals for 50p at a time, according to the latest Annual Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) from Symantec.
For the small amount, fraudsters are able to buy card details, names, addresses and dates of birth, providing them with a huge opportunity to commit identity fraud.
Symantec chief scientist Guy Bunker warned that the so-called underground economy is "recession-proof". A price war may also be starting, as cybercriminals have been finding it easier to steal details, allowing "goods" to be sold at bargain levels.
"As above ground the world economy spirals, the underground economy has never been healthier," he added.
Symantec found a large variation in the cost of credit card data, with details going as cheaply as 40p for less attractive cards, while £20 is being spent on some of the more popular cards. Identities were sold for between 50p and £40, while back account details were sold for as much as £675.
Symantec detected 1.6 million malicious threats last year - 60 percent of the total 2.6 million it has discovered during the last 27 years.
"The fact 60 percent of the malicious threats ever recorded by Symantec were undertaken in 2008 highlights the seriousness of this rising threat and the need for us all to be educated about how to best protect ourselves, both at home and at work," Mr Bunker concluded.
