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* ID theft: Don t lose yourself on the internetThe leaflet, published during National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, offers up-to-date advice on how to keep personal details out of the hands of would-be identity thieves.
The BBA warns that growing numbers of people using social networking websites, such as Facebook, risk extending an open invitation to identity thieves by publishing personal information such as their phone number, address, birthday or full name.
The new leaflet also highlights scams in which fraudsters pose as a bank and email or phone customers to ask them to 'confirm' account details. The BBA says banks will never email customers to ask for sensitive details in this way. If you receive a suspicious phone call, you should say you will call the person back and then do so using a published phone number for the bank.
BBA Chief Executive Angela Knight said:
"Many people now shop, bank and make friends online but it is important not to leave an open door to crooks. Banks invest millions of pounds each year to protect customers from fraud. But you should also make sure you protect your own identity."
"The BBA’s guide suggests some simple precautions to make the criminal's job harder and to help spare you a nightmare, such as problems getting loans, credit cards or a mortgage - not to mention possible financial loss - if you fall prey to the identity thieves."
Other top tips for staying safe online include:
* Make sure your browser is set to the highest level of security. Clear your browser's cache after internet banking or shopping and if your browser remembers passwords and user names, consider disabling this function.
* Never store your password on your computer's hard disk and consider setting up separate access accounts if your computer supports this.
* Always switch off your computer completely when you have finished using it and take care not to open unusual email attachments.