Keep your personal details to yourself

Personal details should only ever be revealed when it is your decision to give them out. Your bank will never ask for your PIN or online account password, and neither will any trustworthy online retailer, credit card or auction site. 

To keep your information safe you should:

• never give out your personal details to a telephone caller, such as your date of birth or mother's maiden name

• always delete emails asking you to 'update' bank account details (fraudsters can easily use the logos of high street store names, and fraudulent emails will often appear genuine)

Monitor your credit report

You can order your credit report. If you have ever had a credit card, a loan or a mortgage, one of three main credit reference agencies hold a file on you. This includes details of organisations with which you have had financial dealings in recent years.

A statutory credit report by post costs £2. When you receive your report, check it thoroughly. 

If you find anything that you don't recognise, contact the credit reference agency and let them know.

Report missing mail

If you think your post might have been intercepted or stolen, contact Royal Mail. 

You can either report what's happened on the Royal Mail website, or speak to a customer service adviser by calling 08457 740 740. They will direct your query to an investigations unit that specialises in mail problems. 

If you move house you can also arrange for Royal Mail to redirect your post for up to a year - even if you move abroad.

Robbery

Robberies (including muggings, and snatch thefts) are crimes that often involve violence or threats. While the likelihood of this happening is small, you should be aware of what you can do to keep yourself and your property safe.

Top tips: staying safe from robbery

If you have to walk alone at night take extra care. Stay on roads that are well lit and relatively busy.

To stay safe, you can also:

• plan your route in advance

• avoid short cuts that involve alleyways or walking across parks or commons unless they are well-lit

• if you're carrying a bag, try to have it across your chest and keep your hand over the fastening

• be aware of your surroundings and stay alert to what’s going on around you

• be careful with your electronics; talking on a mobile phone, listening to an MP3 player or carrying a laptop bag shows thieves that you have something to steal

• don't carry important documents or credit cards that you do not need

• avoid using cash machines at night

• only take your wallet out when you need to

• if you think you are being followed, cross the road or go into a shop and stay there until you're sure you're safe

Staying safe on public transport

If you are travelling by yourself and you know how to get home, using public transport is safer than walking. However, you should still use common sense to protect yourself.

If you are waiting for a bus or a train, stand in a well-lighted area near other people. Once you are on board, try and sit near other people and make sure you know where the emergency alarms are.

Don’t be afraid to change seats or carriages if you feel unsafe, even if it seems rude to do so.