Around one in four adults in the UK have been a victim of identity theft fraud, or know someone who has, according to a Which? survey, prompting online banks to issue advice on identity protection for their customers.

Online bank Smile has released its ten tips to avoid this growing kind of online fraud, with the bank apparently increasingly concerned over the financial damage that identity theft – where fraudsters steal personal details to access funds – can cause.

"It is a good idea to protect your identity against fraud, following a few simple steps like these could make a real difference," explained Smile's marketing manager Allan Brown.

Don't wait for someone to steal your identity, take precautions now."

The advice includes regularly checking your statements and credit files for unrecognised transactions, as well as ensuring that all personal data is kept safe and secure, whether it be on computer or on paper.

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