As well as using established sources of personal data, such as theft and going through your rubbish in search of bank or credit card statements, criminals are now using less obvious methods of tracking down your personal information such as social networking websites like Facebook.

If you want to try and avoid becoming another statistic, here’s a few basic tips on how to help protect yourself from fraud.

Safeguard your rubbish - Never throw away anything that could be used to steal your identity. The list doesn't stop at the obvious, such as bank and card statements, old driving licences or passport application forms. Even a catalogue order form with your name, address and account number will do for an identity thief. Always shred sensitive documents before you bin them.

Don’t reveal your PIN and passwords - Never share your PINs and passwords and never write them down anywhere obvious. It's asking for trouble - and you could be held liable if money goes missing or anything else goes wrong.

Check your statements - Check your credit card and bank statements. An unidentified or suspicious transaction is often the first sign of fraud.

Remember your friends - Online friends and members of social network groups aren't the same as real friends. They may not even be real… Don’t accept every friend request and be discreet about what you say about yourself with those that you do not know personally.

Protect your private information - Always use the website’s privacy settings to keep out strangers and those you don’t know too well. Check your settings regularly to make sure that you keep private matters private. Be careful what details you give away on social networks. Your full name, date of birth, address and telephone number are valuable information for a fraudster. Nicknames, anniversaries, birthdays, children's names and anything you might use as a password or PIN are best kept to yourself.

Beware of bogus emails and attachments - Never respond to unsolicited emails or phone calls asking for your bank, card or other account details. Don't click through to any linked website either. These are known as phishing emails and are designed to scam you. If an email looks as if it really does come from your bank or another reputable organisation, contact them independently, using a number or address you already have or find via a search engine. Never open attachments on unsolicited emails as they could contain a virus that will infiltrate your computer and send personal data to a hacker.

Log out - Always shut down your email programme or close your email browser window if anyone else could get into it and alter settings. They could divert key messages - for example, ones containing bank details - and you might not know until it's too late.

More information on identify fraud, and how to avoid it, can be found on www.identityfraud.org.uk