Posted on 6/5/2013

Written by Ashmi Pathela

We all know the obvious information you should never post on Facebook. Your address, social security number, and credit card info – and the list goes on. However, some photos and statuses may seem harmless at first glance, yet can be unintentionally damaging.

Think twice before posting:

1. Your vacation plans. Too often, people get excited about their upcoming vacations and post a countdown to the departure date or a check-in at the airport. While this is harmless when only seen by genuine friends, this information can tip off robbers that your home is empty and easily accessible. There are countless news headlines where burglars ended up choosing homes to rob based on social media posts and check-ins.

2. Photos of your new car. This week, we saw several stories in the news about credit bureaus that admit to using Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest posts to identify fraudsters. They aren’t afraid to use the vast amount of publicly available information out there to sniff out suspicious activity.

3. Photos of other peoples’ kids without permission. While you may feel comfortable posting some photos of your kids online, other parents may not. Make sure you respect their comfort level and ask before posting any pics. Refrain from sharing your child’s name online as well – identity thieves and other evildoers can target kids via information gleaned from social media.

4. A video or photo tour of your house. Although it’s tempting to post a full photo or video tour of your newly redecorated or remodeled house, you should just post a few limited close-ups. A full tour gives criminals direct access to your home’s layout, making it much easier for them to navigate once they break in.

5. Your skydiving photo (or any other risky activity). If you indulge in risky behavior or dangerous sports, insurance companies could raise your premium. The same goes for frequent posts about illnesses or injuries.

I’m guilty of committing two of these mistakes – posting vacation plans and sharing photos of my bungee jumping experience – and I didn’t give it a second thought. How many of the above have you posted? Tell us in the comments below!

And check out these additional tips from FAVES + CO.

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