BUSINESS CENT$
The Hidden Dangers
of Oversharing on Social Media
Article by Kevin Quinn, VP of Claims at Mercury Insurance Group
(BPT) - Locking doors and windows and leaving a light on used to deter criminals from breaking into homes when you were away on vacation, but our obsession with sharing photos and experiences in real time on social media has created a whole new security risk for travelers. According to Mercury Insurance, burglaries involving social media have become all too common these days.
""Instead of looking for physical signs that a home is unoccupied, burglars can simply scan Instagram posts, monitor Twitter feeds and check Facebook for signs that someone
isn't home.
"Instead of looking for physical signs that a home is unoccupied, burglars can simply scan Instagram posts, monitor Twitter feeds and check Facebook for signs that someone isn't home. Posted photos can also show them exactly what to look for when they break in," says Mercury Insurance Vice President of Claims Kevin Quinn. "Oversharing on social media is commonplace and built-in smartphone features like geotagging, which share the user's exact location when they post, are only making things easier for thieves."
One example is a Mercury claimant who took his family on vacation to Cancun, Mexico. The family was very active on social media, publicizing their upcoming vacation and continuing to post updates throughout the trip. Thieves used this information to break into the claimant's home and steal nearly $200,000 worth of personal property, along with a Mercedes-Benz parked in the driveway. Many of the items stolen were pictured on the family's social media accounts, so the thieves knew exactly what to target.
"It's important to make sure no one in your family is posting your travel plans. . Facebook posts checking into restaurants