Small e-tailer takes on Web cons

An e-tailer in the United Kingdom, frustrated at the rise of online credit card fraud, has taken the fight to the fraudsters with the launch of a Web site called early-warning.org.uk.

Andrew Goodwill, managing director of ukcomputerparts.com, launched the site, which collates details of would-be fraudsters and alerts fellow e-tailers about the threat they pose, because he says he had become so frustrated about losing money to con artists and had become disenchanted about a lack of interest from the police. Within two days of launching, 35 e-tailers have already signed up for the service, which is free to join. Most are small businesses, the majority selling computers and software.

Silicon.com's Will Sturgeon reported from London.