If the online "Trust" network breaksdown, then you get a pretty bad week for social networking in general. To an internet fraudster an identity is worth £80, suggests research from the UK's Get Safe Online campaign. The same study revealed that in 2008 23% of net users fell victim to phishing attacks - far higher than the 8% it claims were caught out in 2007.

Small wonder that Britain has been described as being in the midst of a cyber crimewave. Here the BBC offers some advice about how to stay safe online.

How bad is identity fraud?

In 2006, a government estimate put the cost of ID theft at £1.7bn a year. In 2007 Cifas - the UK's fraud prevention service - helped more than 65,000 victims of ID fraud and theft.

Fraudsters use personal details to gain access to bank accounts, run up bills, launder money, create false documents such as passports or birth certificates and carry out benefit fraud.

The consequences can be very distressing and a headache for victims to sort