SOCIAL media giants must play their part in tackling online crime, says Tatton MP Esther McVey.

More than 3.5 million cases of fraud are reported in England and Wales each year, with online fraud growing, but not enough focus is being given to the crime, according to Ms McVey.

The Tatton MP, a member of the Common’s Home Affairs Select Committee, questioned Home Secretary Amber Rudd on measures Government was taking to combat the crime.

Ms McVey said: “Given the enormity of these numbers, is online fraud and fraud getting the priority it needs?

“Only 27 out of the 41 police and crime commissioners referred to it in their crime plans up to April 2017.”

Ms Rudd said: “You are 20 times more likely to be a victim of crime online than offline, and we need to make sure more attention and effort goes into looking after people online.”

Ms McVey said she feared recorded crimes could be the ‘tip of the iceberg’ given some banks could deal with fraud cases themselves to avoid bad publicity.

Ms Rudd told the Committee larger organisations were reluctant to come forward with numbers, but there was a ‘new shot of enthusiasm and focus’ for tackling fraud when a card was not present.

Ms McVey said increasing numbers of crimes were taking place online, and therefore those who benefited from the internet should help bear the cost.

She said: “Isn’t it about time the main stakeholders and main beneficiaries, in what I call the ‘virtual world’, like the Googles, YouTubes, Facebooks - look after, pay for and police that space and not leave it to the ‘real world’ and the police forces, which can sometimes be a step behind in this age of technology.

“That would be the key area going forward, that the people who benefit from the virtual world should be taking part in clearing it up.”

Ms Rudd said internet companies already paid a charge to cover the cost of fraud, but she would look further into Ms McVey’s suggestion.

An estimated one million cases of fraud are committed each year without a card being present.