Burglars no longer case streets, instead they scroll through social media and send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts, which could leave you at risk
When you’re away on holiday, it’s incredibly tempting to share updates with everyone back home. However, that innocent photo of your hotel room or boarding pass could potentially cost you thousands if you’re not cautious.
According to Forum Insurance, posting real-time social media updates might invalidate your home insurance should you fall victim to burglary whilst away. This stems from “reasonable care” provisions included in numerous policies, reports the Express.
Insurance companies may contend that publicly announcing your home is empty constitutes negligence.
Niraj Mamtora, Director and Home Insurance Expert at Forum Insurance, explained that criminals have become far more sophisticated nowadays.
He stated: “Burglars aren’t just casing streets anymore, they’re scrolling through Instagram stories and Facebook timelines.
“With this in mind, insurers expect policyholders to take reasonable care to protect their property, and that now includes being cautious about what you share online.”
“For example, posting ‘Off to Greece for two weeks!’ could be considered negligence under policy terms, similar to leaving doors unlocked.”
Even sharing within private groups offers no protection, he warned: “Screenshots can circulate, and insurers may argue you didn’t sufficiently limit audience access.
“Many insurers include clauses requiring policyholders to ‘take care to prevent loss.’
If you publicly broadcast your holiday plans, insurers could argue you breached this duty. Always assume anything shared online, even privately, could be seen by criminals.”
Niraj warns that even innocent-looking posts can alert criminals: “They often monitor public profiles or send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts.
“Even something as simple as tagging yourself at the airport or sharing a boarding pass photo can give criminals a clear window of opportunity.”
To protect yourself from criminals while on holiday, there are several precautions you can take.
Niraj advises checking your insurance policy for clauses like “reasonable care” or “unforced entry”, and suggests waiting until you’re back home before posting holiday snaps.
It’s also wise to set your social media accounts to private, regularly review your friends list, and decline friend requests from people you don’t know.