Holiday-makers are being advised to safeguard their personal information at home and away as fraud committed abroad on UK cards amounted to almost £83 million last year.

Research by online credit report service MyCallCredit discovered some surprising destinations in the top places for foreign card fraud including Turkey, France, Spain, USA, Italy, China, Thailand, Ireland, India and Netherlands.

"When on holiday, it is all too easy to adopt a relaxed frame of mind and become less vigilant about keeping belongings safe," explained Callcredit director Melanie Mitchley.

"It is precisely this lapsed approach that thieves home in on, they are professionals at targeting tourists and they are only too aware that people are likely to have lots of personal information with them whilst away."

MyCallCredit suggests some ways travellers can help safeguard their identity are by limiting the number of cards they take on holiday, keeping a PIN number shielded at cash points and by locking their passport in the hotel safe.