Posting little details of our life on various threads…

Caleo

Allira

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

Aye and I am Anastasia's daughter.

Gransnet and all other human communications would crumple to rubbish if enough lies are told. That is why in most religious traditions, lying is normally considered wrong (a sin or vice), but many also recognize situations where a lie can be the lesser evil or even a duty.

You must be my long-lost sister!!
Hello 😁

FriedGreenTomatoes2

But what COULD you do with such information really?

That’s what I would like someone to explain to me!
And with this one ‘

A few years ago a poster posted a photo of husbands gravestone, they then mentioned a holiday on another thread .
They have several times over the years have mentioned area they live in.

With Ai all theses details will add up‘

Wouldn’t someone have to trawl through all the person’s posts after they have identified them, find the exact address, scope out the house to make sure it’s empty while the occupants are on holiday, then arrange a burglary? Or do you fear AI will do it for you? And wouldn’t telling someone in the village shop or hairdresser that you were going on holiday be just as risky, if not more so if you’re overheard?
I’m all for being aware when it comes to requests for money, but I wouldn’t like to become fearful of divulging any information at all.

The problem is, a person doesn’t have to trawl through posts. A computer program can do it easily and correlate the details.
When I reported a recent scam, the bank asked if I’d answered any questions about my shopping habits, where I might have used my card, when did I last use my card etc. Evidently details like that are useful to the scammer to build a profile.

It is stalking I had in mind, whether for good or ill. Information given can be built upon and someone found who may not be welcome.

I might know who that is.
And if so, so what?
If it’s who I think it is they rarely go on holiday and have an EXTREMELY fierce guard dog 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I remember a few years ago there were several burglaries linked to people posting funeral arrangements and including their address. Also some people post that they are going away for a holiday and their address is easily found.

The wisest thing is not to, surely. Unfortunately some are lured in to thinking it’s a nice cosy space to offload and give lots of personal details which, I think, should be held back. It’s not safe.

If people are posting about being in hospital, on holiday, away at friends, down the church on certain days together with details of where they live then the unscrupulous could build a picture up quite easily. Be vague. Tell your story but be aware of potential consequences if you do.

I remember that a Japanese man located a woman from a photo she posted from her flat. Really annoying that I can’t find any details but I came across this.
Needless to say that I’ve posted a screenshot. A bit of a faff but perhaps a wise precaution?

A couple of years ago a once prolific poster gave details of a person who had come back in to her life, through previous information she had given I found this man in less than 10 minutes,I had his name street address and details of a court case he was involved in.

She was horrified and apologetic, the thread was removed instantly.

I see posters are still giving out lots of personal info , they haven’t bothered reading this thread obvs and seem to think that only the posters on a particular thread are reading it.

I shall risk it for a biscuit and continue being me. 😁
I don’t post photos of family.
I don’t use their names.
I tweak inconsequential details.
But if we change too much we can’t be ourselves and I’d find that sad. And a bit of a waste of my time (and yours - if you’re reading my posts).

I don’t tweak anything, but don’t say my home town or any names of family or personal info or ages of DGC or anything.
There’s no need.

Oreo

I don’t tweak anything, but don’t say my home town or any names of family or personal info or ages of DGC or anything.
There’s no need.

Agreed.

East Anglia, 4 daughters, no names, old 1800s home - no value.

We've been scammed, good reminder not to share much.

Oreo

I see posters are still giving out lots of personal info , they haven’t bothered reading this thread obvs and seem to think that only the posters on a particular thread are reading it.

Yes, I noticed that too.

I reported a thread, it seemed suspicious to me but it is still there and posters are sharing their stories.

I would like to see an easy name change facility on here. It would help protect our anonymity.

I don't think it's necessarily the amount of information shared about a lifetime's experiences. That's all pretty irrelevant, and will anyone really put together facts from the previous century?
I'm guessing it has to be specific details from current situations including numbers and maybe dates?

25Avalon

My IPad will choose and remember difficult passwords for me. Just hope I never lose my iPad but it never leaves the house.

Is it password protected ? That is the main thing to remember.

Floradora9

25Avalon

My IPad will choose and remember difficult passwords for me. Just hope I never lose my iPad but it never leaves the house.

Is it password protected ? That is the main thing to remember.

Yes I have to use my finger print ID which I have set up before it will go in.

RosieandherMaw

I might know who that is.
And if so, so what?
If it’s who I think it is they rarely go on holiday and have an EXTREMELY fierce guard dog 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Hear ye all nasty intruders and stalkers! I have an extremely fierce guard dog and almost never go on holiday.

Caleo

RosieandherMaw

I might know who that is.
And if so, so what?
If it’s who I think it is they rarely go on holiday and have an EXTREMELY fierce guard dog 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Hear ye all nasty intruders and stalkers! I have an extremely fierce guard dog and almost never go on holiday.

Ditto!

merlotgran

Anyone who can work out my passwords from stuff I post on Gransnet must have worked at Bletchley Park during the war.

That made me giggle, merlotgran!

My passwords are created by my laptop or iPad and only accessed via my fingerprint.

I'm a little concerned for a local pair of new grandparents.They are so besotted with the child that she now has her own instagram account where they post every day. I wonder do the parents realise some of the dangers.

Should you report your suspicions to Gransnet?
.

Thank you GG13 for this post. There have been a couple of times when I would have liked support and advice from grans but didn't post because I thought I could be identified if the gran of one of those involved happened to be on gransnet.

I did once send a private message and have almost done so again but each time it would have meant divulging information that might be to a scammer,. My passwords are in a Word document that is password protected and the DDs know the password. There is also a hard copy hidden in the house. I've never made up my dob - perhaps I'll start doing that now - but I make up everything else as so much can be worked out from genealogy websites these days. I have owned some amazing cars and exotic pets, attended some unlikely schools and was born in several locations.

Galaxy

I slightly alter some of my details, so if I was talking about a friend who had a similar difficulty to something being discussed on a thread, for example, I would change their info, so I would say they were male instead of female.
I do that if I mention my children as well.
I lie basically but only with regard to non relevant details.

Definitely the right thing to do. No harm in changing ages or gender of GCs a little for example. Avoid your location or anyone else’s. What a shame we have to be so suspicious but I suppose it goes with the territory of the Internet.