With identify fraud increasing at an alarming rate, it's worth checking out this timely piece Six ways to avoid identity theft.

The piece is based largely on the Javelin Strategy and Research 2006 Identity Fraud Survey Report released early this year. And the data from that study is disturbing.

While the actual number of American adults falling victim to identity fraud is declining, the actual amount being ripped off through identity fraud is getting bigger. Which might tell us that the fraudsters are getting more sophisticated.

But the most disturbing part about the study is that most of the fraud is avoidable.

According to these figures, 63 per cent of these cases involved stuff that was within the consumer's control, be it lost or stolen wallets, credit cards and cheque books, trusted associates including family, friends, neighbours and employees, stolen mail or garbage and hacking into computers.

Frauds from these sorts of cases came out to 73 per cent of the total amount ripped off.