to be just the tiniest bit suspicious?

[Mintyy]

We have two threads in active convos tonight:

1. asking for details about your pets and
2. asking what was number 1 on the date you were born

This is probably a coincidence and harmless, but remember to be careful about specific personal info you give out on the internet everyone.

Stay safe out there

Imperial - I'm thinking less about some financial scam and more about someone going "I think I know Hassled in RL - she's let enough slip over the years. I think she's Mavis Bloggs - let's ask a few questions to confirm that". So I say yes, I was born in 1845 and have 3 pet armadillos, and bingo, I may as well have Mavis Bloggs as my username. That's the scenario I'd like to avoid.

Well I certainly wouldn't put my full name, dob, mothers maiden name and all passwords up.

It was a genuine question, I'm amazed by some scams I read about and honestly wondered whether mnhq would be onto it if it were anything to worry about.

It does make you wonder.

hassled that's a very good point. Hadn't thought of that at all.

my passwords are all the number plates of cars I used to own

easy to remember, there are several of them and I can openly call across a room to DH that the password for such and such is the Talbot without giving away the password

and although I make no bones about my age, I try not to give too much away in detail
if nothing else that I use Duedil so know how easy it is to track people

Yes, Hassled, its the loss of your anonymity (if you don't want to lose it) that concerns me. We have had several posters get into trouble in this way over the years.

I've just posted in both.

To fox 'em.

And quite honestly who the fuck is interested in what your pet is called, what colour your front door is (another thread somewhere), which football team won the cup in in the year you lost your virginty etc etc

They are such boring threads that just turn into a list - does anyone (apart from phishers) really read them?

talkinpeace
I remember you from another thread

It was a thread about memorising number plates and you mentioned the talbot then too.

Good idea!

I say the talbot as that is the one I do NOT use for here that and it went to the breakers yard over 20 years ago !!

Iv never had a pet so i am safe

The website to find which record was number one when you were born is dodgy. My anti-virus software advised not using it.

I like the number plate idea!

There was a thread a while back where a poster found another poster on fb from details she had put on here.
It's really easy to give too much away, unless you don't mind people knowing who you are, or don't think anyone will be that bothered.
It can be hard to know where being safe on line merges in to being paranoid.

I like the numberplate idea too. I recall the numberplate my Dad had when I was 10. That would be a good one to use. :)

My number one was number one for 4 weeks. So that's a few dob's to sort through, in the unlikely event anyone on here actually knew who I was, had any of my other details, was inclined to be a bit dodgy and knew where I banked/etc.

I also ran a quick scan, when I went on that 'number ones of the year' site I got some funny pop up.

Yeah, I was wary as well

10000Fireflies snap

xkcd.com/936/

Good call

If you're Scottish, all I need is your name and rough age and I can easily get your dob, mothers maiden name and any marriage you've had, plus names and dobs of your kids.

All birth, death and marriage certs are public info. Same in England if course, just not quite so quick and easy to get, as the system isn't as instantly searchable.

If you're concerned about this stuff then don't use real maiden names in passwords. Use random names that you like.

How on earth do you lot remember past number plates? I struggle with the vehicle I've got now, always have to peer out the window when I do my insurance quote to double check; no way I'd recall an old one.

Well spotted Mintyy

Waves to anyone who recognises me from my pet details. :)

OP I reckon that's a good spot. I looked at OP history on both threads and in each case, the poster's first post was yesterday.

Has anyone posted on these threads to warn about giving personal information?

Of course could be entirely innocent.......

Yes, and both ops "gave" their details as well, possibly to make it look friendly and harmless?