10 ways what you share on Facebook could make you a crime target… so how many are YOU guilty of?
Don't set yourself up to be a victim with these classic oversharing mistakes
THIEVES and fraudsters are getting smarter by using social media to help plan out their crimes - making it more important than ever to stay safe online.
Footballer John Terry had £400,000 of luxury goods stolen from his £5million home after he posted a holiday snap on Instagram.
The former England captain was robbed of a limited-edition watch valued at £22,000 and handbags worth £126,000 by three axe-wielding burglars.
Thankfully, the footie star's wife Toni and twins were abroad with him so no one was hurt but John isn't the only one to overshare online.
Security expert Michael Fraser told The Sun Online he was shocked to see how many people tagged themselves at the airport, telling thieves how long they would be gone for.
He said: “The burglar no longer has to walk through the streets to find out when a house is empty, he can do it online.
“The normal Joe Public is not really expecting something like this to happen – they don’t realise when they put something online, people can check it and find out plenty of information."
So how can you avoid becoming the latest victim of these calculated crimes?
Here are ten ways what you share on Facebook could make you a crime target.
Don't tag yourself at home
Checking in and labelling the location as your home shows potential burglars where you live.
Your address can open up any number of fraud opportunities for criminals in the know - not to mention giving them an exact address to burgle if they like the look of anything in your posts.
Don't check in at the airport
There is no easier way than to tell all your Facebook friends and the whole of Instagram that you will not be about for the next week or two.
Resist the temptation to show off about your trip and avoid checking in online before you check in for your flight.
Don't post pictures of your boarding pass
Artsy pre-travel snaps of your travel documents with a nice coffee and a catchy slogan like "go explore" are all the rage.
But if you show any of the details of your flight online people will know exactly when you're away and therefore the best window to pay your home a visit.
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Don't upload selfies from holiday
Again - avoid the temptation to upload pictures of you and your hot dog legs until you're back on home ground.
Showing off about your beach holiday only makes it clear to opportunistic criminals that an opportunity has arisen.
Update your security settings so only your friends can see your posts
If your privacy settings allow everyone to see what's on your page - you are leaving yourself open to strangers accessing the personal information you post.
Adjust your settings so that only friends can see your snaps and comments to make sure that you stay safe.
Don't tag other people as on holiday with you
Just because you've decided to ignore our advice and upload a beach selfie doesn't mean you need to drag your mates down with you.
Tagging in your nearest and dearest also means people can see that they aren't home and that leaves them vulnerable.
Don't mention your pet's name
People often use their pet's name as a password or the answer to a secret question.
If you are one of these people it's best not to broadcast their name online as fraudsters could use it to gain access to your accounts.
Don't take the "tell all" quizzes
Fancy knowing which Kardashian you are or what your "porn star name" would be?
Stay away from the "fun" online quizzes which promise to unveil your secret spirit animal and other such ridiculousness.
The questions they ask can often be used to answer the personal questions that guard your account such as your mother's maiden name or the first album you bought.
Don't brag about the expensive stuff you own
You may have just won on the scratch cards and want to flash the cash, or have just bought a pricey new watch but keep those pics away from social media.
Showing off about your assets is only tempting thieves to nick them - also it's quite annoying for your followers.
Don't post your phone number online
When you upload pictures to Facebook from your phone they can encourage you to input your number as well.
But if you do, it means anyone can potentially find your name, picture and location by just searching for your phone number.
There are also hidden dangers when posting holiday photos of your kids online… including how people can find out EXACTLY where they were taken.
Facebook users have also been urged NOT to share missing child photos by cops who claim it could alert paedos and kidnappers to vulnerable kids.
Too many selfies, boasting about the kids and gym check ins… are YOU guilty of these social media sins?