Nunhead is hotspot for online fraud

The top 10 locations for online fraud this Christmas are all in London.

Topping the "league of shame" is Nunhead in south-east London, which has the highest proportion of delivery addresses linked to fraud in the country, research shows today.

It leads Crystal Palace and Thamesmead, and the top three account for five per cent of all attempted internet fraud in Britain, according to prevention firm Retail Decisions. Other high-risk areas include Romford, Whitechapel, Ilford, Streatham, Brixton, Islington and Croydon.

The fraud list was revealed immediately after Britain's biggest online shopping day - "Mega Monday" - which saw sales of around £370 million.

Trading peaked at 1.09pm yesterday with purchases worth £12,800 confirmed every second. In the minute between 1.09pm and 1.10pm, sales reached £767,500, a rise of 93 per cent on the busiest minute last year - 1.42pm on 11 December.

Carl Clump, chief executive of Retail Decisions, said: "It's always a Monday because people go out to the shops at the weekend, but decide they would be better off buying online. They make their purchases in their lunch hour on their office computers."

The best-selling online gifts this year have been tokens, followed by Nintendo Wii games and accessories, iPods, digital cameras, satnav devices and games consoles.

Gifts that have risen strongly through the popularity ranks include Boots's Number 7 Protect and Perfect face cream, the Gillette power razor gift pack and champagne and truffles.

Leading online retailers said they were enjoying a bumper Christmas. A spokesman for Amazon.co.uk said the site "is enjoying its biggest Christmas on record. Sales have been consistently high over the last few weeks".