Posting little details of our life on various threads…

Was the alpaca one the one where the GNer and her H were killed in a car crash one evening and the D posted about her parents, or another one?
I seem to think there may have been two.
Was the H a retired Farmer or a Vet?

Ta Allira the butler looks like Brad Pitt, which isn’t surprising as it really is Brad Pitt, I hired him as he’s between films at the mo and needs a few bob.
Do come round again soon but kindly lay off the choccy HobNobs, you only left one on the plate last time.🤬

I haven’t told anyone this before but I really live in a massive mansion in Park Lane
I wasn't going to let on, but I do know you in Real Life and really enjoyed myself when you invited me round for afternoon tea.
Your butler is very handsome, I must say

This post is a timely reminder.
My first post on GNet 4 or 5 years ago was to express surprise that so much identifying info was revealed on the Good Morning thread by one GN. I almost felt it must be false.

Since reading the GM thread over the years I can see that it does give a feeling of a cosy club of a select few.

Sadly I think all GNS especially contributors to that thread and similar regular threads must have a rethink about what they reveal and how much they use the private message facility.
This thread has made me pull my socks up.

I think we've become more cynical on Gransnet as there have been more than a couple of convincing trolls on here who had many posters supporting them for quite a long time.

Wish I’d been here for the alpaca farm, must have been believable or nobody would have been taken in.
I’m wary of any sob story or tales of wild adventures or grandiose plans.
I guess it’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security on forums.
I haven’t told anyone this before but I really live in a massive mansion in Park Lane.🤭

Millie22

It is quite concerning when people put a lot of personal information on here or any other forum.

This is the Internet after all and anybody can see what is written.

Jennifer
The alpaca farm! I remember it so well and what a tale that was.

I too remember that awful thread. So many of us expressed genuine sympathy for what seemed like a family tragedy but turned out to be a cynical and heartless invention. I can’t even remember what the perpetrator hoped to gain from it but it made me much warier of believing what I read on Gransnet.
Cynical maybe but once bitten…….

It is quite concerning when people put a lot of personal information on here or any other forum.

This is the Internet after all and anybody can see what is written.

Jennifer
The alpaca farm! I remember it so well and what a tale that was.

When I call my dog back into the house after his late night wee wee I call " MAX" not " TIDDLES".

escaped

Wouldn't it be funny if we're all interacting with people in GN who make up lots of falsities about themselves! 🤣
I wouldn't be too sure!

If any public forum has mostly authentic posters that would be Gransnet I do believe.

Good advice, GG. Thanks.

*gransnet

I agree with Grannygravy not everyone’s intentions are honourable.
If you divulge too much of your life on threads you can easily be identified too when you might thing you are anonymous.
Sad, as so many get joy from being a part of the grander community.

Wouldn't it be funny if we're all interacting with people in GN who make up lots of falsities about themselves! 🤣
I wouldn't be too sure!

We all use pseudonyms on GN. Any scammers wanting to use any onfo on GN first needs access to our reaal names.
Like Galaxy I do doctor the facts slightly, something about an aunt might actually be about a niece and things like that, nothing to falsify the point I am making but done partially to protect their anonymity. Not because I am afraid of scammers but because I am friends with some people on GN and know their real names and meet them and, when i first meet them, I do not know whether, they happen to know people that I know quite independently.

One thing that always surprises me is that people often use their name in their email addresses.
I don’t, mine is a made up name , and when I receive an email that says ‘Dear Plinkrttyplonk for example, I immediately know it’s a fake.

Although my Username gives a small clue to my background, it doesn't relate to where I now live and I'm deliberately vague about personal and family details. I wouldn't for example divulge my previous employment, specific ages or locations of family members or pets' names. Scammers are always trying to get one over on us, sadly.

It’s horrible to go through life being suspicious of people but unfortunately those are the times we live in.

Regarding what posters reveal on here, a few years ago someone put a picture of a granddaughter and daughter on here, along with a story about a teacher’s reaction to some work the child had done.
The child and possibly the teacher could have been identified.

Then there have been posters over the years who have created totally false lifestyles. Alpacas?

Thaanksfor a timely reminder. I was much more guarded when I joined but have been more open as time passes

Anyone who has researched family history knows how easy it is to find past family members.
I have managed through Google, company house ( gives addresses) and even planning records , with only a few clues.

Allira

Just don't be taken in by Donny Osmond, who loves you and needs £50,000 to enable him to come to live with you. He'll give up everything for you but he's a bit short at the moment and needs cash upfront.
He'll have lovely long chats with you online but in fact he's AI Donny superimposed on another body.

I watched that. There lies the problem. That lady wasn’t old so I can only assume she had bad eyesight. Did she not notice that Donnie had no ears.
Another goody bag for the scammers: fan websites. You’re halfway there already because they know you’ll do anything for your idol.

That’s the place I’ve put up several times when posters talk of hackers sitting in their bedrooms
I will try again to find the film ( true) where a wealthy businessman had his identity stolen. He had the money to employ a private internet detective. That’s the place they went to.
What we have to accept is that we are never going to beat them. And now with AI it’s going to get worse 😱

Nosiness not noiseless!

Another thing to think about is people who search through noiseless. My dil was questioned by a friend of mine asking some quite personal questions. The friend asked to befriend her on Facebook but dil said she didn't use it.
Next time she looked at Facebook this persons profile came up as someone you might know so she had obviously searched for her.

I've just been contacted by instagram as they think I have difficulty logging in.I don't use it but was someone trying to hack it?