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More than one in 10 Canadians who shop online have fallen victim to identity theft, with Ontarians hit the hardest, a survey released yesterday suggests.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of PayPal Canada, found that 12 per cent of all online shoppers polled in Ontario claimed they had been victims of identity theft. Albertans were second-hardest hit, with nine per cent reporting their identities stolen.

"People are doing more and more transactions online and that predisposes them to more chances of a fraudulent transaction happening," said Darrell MacMullin, country manager for PayPal Canada. "Fraud continues to evolve. Don't share information online that you don't want everyone to know."

Only eight per cent of respondents from British Columbia and Quebec were hit, while fewer than six per cent of respondents in Atlantic Canada reported having their identities stolen.

According to data from Phone Busters and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, which is operated by the RCMP, Canadians have reported 8,048 cases of identity theft so far this year, totalling $7.3 million in losses.

In 2007, there were 9,971 cases of identity theft reported, totalling only $6.4 million in losses.

Globally, English-speaking countries have been hardest hit by identity theft, according to the study. Around 10 per cent of online shoppers in Canada, the United States and Britain reported having their identities stolen, compared to only five percent of respondents in France, Germany and Spain.

Online banking, Internet-based payment systems and social networks containing vast amounts of personal details are proving to be the newest frontiers where criminals can commit identity theft.

According to the PayPal study, more than 85 per cent of respondents are aware of identity theft. Many actively try to minimize their chances of falling victim.

Bob Spence, a spokesman for the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario said consumers should take several measures to protect themselves from identity theft.

He said consumers should conduct an annual credit check on themselves, as well as immediately report any activity they deem to be suspicious. He also said that consumers should regularly change their online passwords and be stingy when it comes to giving out personal details online.