A spokeswoman for the banking and finance industry trade association UK Finance said 'as an important tool in the fight against fraud, SCA adds an additional layer of protection when people pay online using a card.'
People would be now asked to verify a purchase via text message more often, receiving a passcode
which they are prompted to enter on screen. Other confirmations could include answering an
automated phone call to a landline or mobile.
The proportion of transactions for which SCA applies has been steadily increasing since the start of this year. Some transactions may be exempt, including repeated purchases such as subscriptions.
Dennis Reed, of senior citizens' group Silver Voices, said: 'Of course we want to combat online fraud. But to do things like have fingerprints or face recognition technology is going to put a lot of older people off.'
Tom Ironside, at the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Retailers have been working hard to prepare for the SCA requirements, ensuring... any additional friction is kept to a minimum.'
