Coming sharply on the heels of data losses and laptop thefts reported by the Metropolitan Police, Nationwide Building Society, Worcestershire County Council, Torbay Council, Nottingham Hospital and the Halifax, alongside credit card skimming problems in South Wales and a major identity theft ring currently targeting residents of Balham, South London, there is a real risk that most people are likely to see this as just another terrible lapse of security - just one of a series of many disclosures of data breaches.

'The difference with the TK Maxx hack is that, unlike all other recent data breaches, it's now clear that the stolen credit card details are already in the hands of criminals,' says Barry Stamp, who runs the National Identity Theft Assistance Centre.

'There is a clear and present danger of abuse of these credit card details. We advise all TK Maxx customers to check their credit card and bank statements really carefully, not just now, but also going back to December 2002, and going forward.'

Stamp, author of Lawpack's Identity Theft Kit, also advises consumers to use different credit cards for different types of transaction. 'One card should be used where the risk of 'skimming' is high, such as in petrol stations, restaurants and hotels. Another should be used in retail establishments and a further card used for internet transactions.'

'That way, it's so much easier to spot a fraudulent transaction. What's more, if your card is compromised, you'll need to close it down and get a replacement. By having more than one card, this will cause you far less inconvenience.'

If you find a transaction that you don't recognise on your statements, you must immediately contact your card issuer or bank and report the matter. In the UK, you shouldn't suffer any financial loss if you report the matter promptly and if you're shown to have not been negligent with your cards.

10 tips on how to prevent internet fraud

1. Don't ever reveal your PIN number to anyone and try to memorise it rather than write it down.
   
   
2. Keep your credit card separate from your wallet so that it's difficult for it to be stolen.
   
   
3. Check your bank statements carefully to spot any fraudulent transactions.
   
   
4. Keep a copy of all your transactions. Internet banking is a great way of monitoring your spending.
   
   
5. Make sure that you know when to expect your bills and bank statements to arrive in case thieves have redirected or stolen them for their fraudulent use.
   
   
6. Never respond to any emails that appear to be from your bank asking you for your bank details or passwords. Banks will always contact you directly by post.
   
   
7. If you're buying online, always ensure that the payment pages are secure and if the site isn't a reputable brand name, that the company uses an approved payment provider, such as PayPal or WorldPay.
   
   
8. Try to keep your credit level low so that if your identity does get stolen, thieves won't be able to run up thousands of pounds of debts.
   
   
9. Check your credit reports regularly to see whether your credit standing has been abused. You can get a free report on annualcreditreport.co.uk.
   
   
10. Use cash, if possible.

These and more tips on how to protect yourself against identity theft can be found in Lawpack's Identity Theft Kit.

Useful Information
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