LONDON (Reuters) — Britain is the fraud capital of Europe, with almost 20 percent of the population having been a victim of electronic card fraud.More than seven million UK adults — 19 percent of the adult population — have fallen prey to credit and debit card fraudsters, according to a pan-European consumer study.

That is the highest proportion in Europe, where the average stands at 11 percent.

The study, commissioned by the European Security Transport Association (ESTA) — which represents cash industry logistics businesses throughout Europe — found that only eight percent of Spaniards and Italians had fallen victim to card fraudsters.

However, across the eight European countries surveyed, 22.8 million people have had their card details stolen or used without their permission — equivalent to the combined populations of Belgium and Sweden.

The research also found that, as a result of card fraud, 33 percent of Europeans said the experience had made them favour cash over electronic payment.

That compares to a low of 22 percent in France and a high of 46 percent in Spain. Almost a quarter of Britons who had fallen victim said they had returned to using cash.

Mike Bowen, spokesman for the ESTA, said: “It’s incredible how many people across Britain have fallen victim to card fraudsters and unsurprising that so many victims favour a return to cash.

“Indeed, a separate study by the European Commission has found that almost a third of card fraud victims are never reimbursed for their loss by their card provider, despite claims to the contrary by banks.”

The findings come as the European Union is progressing with the Payment Services Directive, which aims to promote the use of electronic payments.