Holiday photos on Facebook - you are NOT going to get burgled

[TaterTots]

I've seen a couple of FB-related threads on here lately where the topic of holiday photos has come up. There have been several posts along the lines of 'why would you post holiday pics, you're letting the world know your house is empty, it's practically an invitation to burglars' etc.

Is it just me or is this a) ridiculously paranoid and b) blatantly not true for many reasons?

1. It's very easy to make your profile visible to friends only, which most people do. If you're worried someone on your friends list might take the opportunity to burgle you, why the hell are they on your friends list?

2. Even if you do have an open profile, surely you'd have to put your address on it as well to be at any risk? Surely no one is that daft?

3. Do thieves really trawl FB in the desperate hope of finding an open profile complete with full address, the owner of which conveniently happens to be on holiday? Wouldn't it be a better idea to watch actual houses in the area for signs of emptiness?

4. Who the hell has an FB friends list full of potential thieves?!

I know 1and 4 are essentially the same point, but I feel it's so salient that it's worth repeating.

but how would an insurance company actually know that you've posted on social media
Probably from the thief. They often write things down, make a note of the address. Criminals invariably leave evidence. Checking their computer or phone history would tell the police everything and that would form part of the case file that your insurance company would see.

Anyway, I've just had lunch with BIL who is an insurance underwriter.
I asked him whether the social media invalidating your insurance thing is possible and he laughed his head off
I'll take my advice from the Financial Ombudsmen rather than your BIL. That is who issued the advice.

But wineTime
All the The Financial Ombudsman has issued is guidance for consumers that says: “If you wouldn’t put a poster up on your front lawn saying you’re going on holiday for a few weeks, then don’t post the same thing online with your home details to a bunch of strangers.”

A) it is pretty bloody easy to argue the difference between a Facebook friend and a stranger, so a Facebook status to friends doesn't contravene this guidance
B) it is guidance to consumers. Not policy or advice to insurers

The association of British I nsurers has confirmed that no home cover claim has even been turned down because of social media
www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/holidays/article-3049436/Going-away-Don-t-tell-Facebook-friends-risk-having-insurance-claims-rejected.html

This appears to be a media storm-in-teacup when they've asked a spokesman a theoretical question and used the response out of context.

It does seem very paranoid.

How would a burglar know that your house was empty? I go away on holiday without my DP every year and am tagged in pictures. If a thief decided to go round they'd have nasty surprise as he'd be in!