Successful email-based fraud is falling but phishing attempts surged to over 10,000 between January and March, said bank payment clearing association Apacs.

The body estimated that successful email fraud dropped by one third last year to £22 million. The number of people who said they delete phishing emails or ignore the presented calls to action rose from 75 per cent to 82 per cent.

Recent email scams include the targeting of company directors with fake subpeonas and Mastercard users who were promised discounts on future purchases.