American Express deployed the "don't leave home without it" catchline to flog its credit cards. But be careful your plastic does not leave home without you. "Fraud abroad" is rising, according to Apacs, the UK payments association. While card fraud in UK retailers fell by two thirds from 2004 to 2007, thanks to the introduction of chip and pin technology, misuse of UK cards abroad more than doubled.

Fraudsters previously relied on cheaply copying cards using information contained in the card's magnetic strip. They struggle, though, to counterfeit cards containing chips, which usually require a personal identification number. Swiping a mag-strip, however, remains enough to go spending in countries yet to introduce the new system.