Disclosing private information.
 

I wonder if it’s wise to give away too much private information on a public forum? Without too much effort, several members of this Spanish forum have given away that much private information that anyone could find their home addresses within minutes.

Even if you think you have led blameless lives, there will always be nutters out there who want to cause you harm.

I was going to send a private PM to one particular member, to warn him, but maybe it won’t do any harm to remind all of us, myself included.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

I wondered about this a few weeks ago when on various boards people were posting photos of their streets or backgardens in the snow, and talking about the weather in their town.

Next time they post that they're going on holiday......then what?

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Next time they post that they're going on holiday......then what?


If you are suggesting that thieves might target their houses, from my experience thieves are almost always opportunists. A planned crime is normal reserved for films only.

The exception would be a very valuable target.

So the posters here, who might have let slip sufficient info to trace where they live, need not worry too much, unless they are very rich. If they are, I think they would be unlikely to disclose any info which might cause them a problem.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

So go ahead and post your personal information and see where that gets your 30 years of whatever in London! HBG made a very valid point. I don't know you, you don't know me and none of us knows for certain exactly who we're dealing with and talking to on here.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

I understand what you mean, but the internet never forgets. So while people might not have any worries NOW about seemingly innocuous details, their circumstances might change in the future.
You never know, you or a relative might win the lottery or have the misfortune to become famous (even if only for 15 minutes) and have all sorts of errr, "journalists" trying to dig up details about you. So without being paranoid, I do feel that it's quite possible to take part in forums and to keep your discretion, too.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

I do feel that it's quite possible to take part in forums and to keep your discretion, too.

I quite agree. But in the real world people who need to conceal their personal info would probably almost never be foolish enough to disclose it in a blogg.

Also most people are traceable through their telephone number, car registration, voters registry, companies house registers, land registry etc. I know the police manage to trace many people who try very hard to keep their life secret.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Because Spain is such an attractive retirement location, the whole spectrum of UK pensioners is represented here. I know of a retired Chief Constable, three former Commanders and quite a few Superintendents living in Javea alone. South of Alicante. DIs and the lower ranks are everywhere, they even have their own club not far from where I live.

Most of the former active ones are very careful, when you’ve put villains away for 25 years at a time, you need to be.

The other side is here too, in great numbers. I was in a pub in Torrevieja a couple of years ago, when I spotted a former supergrass, still mouthing it off to anyone who would listen. He had changed his name and appearance, but forgot about his silly loud voice.

He turned round at the door and people were saying , “See you John.” I couldn’t resist calling out “See you, xxxxxx,” and never saw a big man run so fast. I never saw him again.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Its common sense
Whoever you are, and wherever you are

Avoid posting anything on a public forum that might give any sensitive personal information away

@johncar - can you use the quote button rather than cut and paste, it makes things clearer, thanks

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Remember the Panama couple? They were caught out by an Estate Agents website carrying their photo. Pete makes a good point.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Yes I know but I don't see the point of copying all the post when I am olny commenting on a specific part.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Well everyone else does, and I dont see why you should be any different. You just delete the section that doesnt apply ;):)
It makes thinks more difficult to read if you dont

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

(1) Everyone, that a bit sweeping !!!!

(2) Does that mean you will ban me if I don't conform to that 'new rule' ?

(3) I am sorry if you find it's difficult to read, but in 100 odd posts here and more that a 1,000 on a similar forum, you are first to say its a problem. I would have thought that typing errors are at least as big a problem, and that does not seem to be much of a problem !

But no problem.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

The problem is that the people who are indiscreet enough to leave private information on a public forum, often don’t realise that they’re doing it, they’re pedantic people who know it all, no matter what.

I’ve just thought of a perfect example, locally.

A retired police officer haunts the bars round here, gets pissed every day, and insults people at random when he’s had more than he should. He’s barred in most places, but as they change hands frequently he still manages to find more victims.

He goes up to them and says, “I’m retired, Royal Navy and Police. Not from the Met, they’re all bent bastards down there.”

He’s had more right handers than anyone else I know, but it doesn’t stop him. I once saw him cop a right hander while he was in a wheelchair, He’d stopped next to a car where the man opened the driving door before opening the passenger door for his wife.

The ex-copper shouted at him to let his wife in first and shook his fist as the car drove away. It stopped a hundred yards away and the driver ran back and slapped the old boy so hard that he fell out of his chair.

A few of us were sitting at a nearby table, and helped him back into his chair. He said that he was going to report the driver and asked for witnesses. None of us had seen a thing.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

If not everyone, I would say thehuge majority do use the quoting system.

I also found it a little disorientating when reading through posts like your former. Typing errors have already been dealt with on several posts if you would care to read back a little! ;)

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Calm down!:blink:

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

When I was a mod on here I got sick of telling people on a lot of the Europe forums about it, when they were there, which floor, which block etc etc.
Consequently a lot of houses in Costa Esuri were broken into and I am sure someone gleaned the information the owners were posting.
Anyone can read these forums and with a little bit of knowledge of the search facility could easily set up a list of places that have just been fitted out and no one there till so and so, be very careful.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

But they hardly speak English (let alone read it, let alone find this forum) out here + any Spaniard who does has a job as a waiter. Break inns are common here when the summerseason ends and the fishing boats are not working for 45 days. Any idiot knows that every holiday apartment has a tv, dvd player and other households, so these places are just sitting ducks, Safety grills or an alarm system are the solution against burglaries.

I think that putting personal info on a public forum should be done with great care, but I don´t think it leads directly to burglaries.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

But it certainly doesn`t help by posting "anyone know a reja firm i am coming over so and so and need some to be fixed" and perhaps their previous post was about the lovely furniture etc they have just had put in.
It was a little while ago that 6 or 7 apartments were broken into in one go after they had been talking about golf trips etc if i remember.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Oh dear :unsure:

All I'm asking you is to help make peoples lives easier
Its up to you if you ignore me
I'm not judging people on their spelling, not everyone can spell properly.
However people CAN make the effort to conform to forum etiquette ... I hope you do to

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Sure, that´s the way it happened.

There are in winter time over 10.000 empty holiday apartments here, but no they first checked on Britishexpats.com to make sure to pick the right ones!!! :rofl:

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Yes my thoughts as well (oh dear)
You were polite & was just pointing in the right direction, nothing more !

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Hi Jur. Absolutely right.

From my (professional) experience in Spain, when there is a glut of breakings in an apartment block (they occur quite often on the day a person arrives and has their holiday cash and most goodies, often still in their jacket pocket, where they carried it for safe keeping on the journey, hanging on the hook, whilst they nipped out for a quick meal or drink and to renew old acquaintances.) The first suspect for supplying the info to the thief is working on the reception desk. If the police are able to catch that person the run of breakings stop.

I still agree though in principle it is not a good idea to disclose certain info in a public arena.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

I agree and security men, gardeners etc. Unbelievable the amount of keys circulating when units are let through different agents.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

and, of course, people renting an apartment for several months are likely to get a spare set of keys cut, so that's more in circulation. When we bought our house in Spain, first job was to get new locks fitted for that reason.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

The same applies to hire cars. Its easy, rent a car for a day, copy the key, then wait at the airport for some sucker to arrive, carefully lock all his gear in the boot, then follow the car, and when it parks up, Hey Presto its Christmas again !!!!!

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Hardly a comparison, your local ferreteria wont have car key blanks or the corresponding chips needed for the security system.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Sorry Madrid I was in effect quoting from a case the other day when 4 Germans lost all their golf gear and other belongs. I agree it depends on the car, some keys can be obtained. I have a spare for my Toyota from a local shop, it does not have a chip.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

When I was writing about the dangers of disclosing private information, I was thinking more of those instances on other forums, and there have been quite a few, when posters fall out and some unstable ones go looking for revenge.

Only a few years ago, and not all that far away, there was a forum get together and all hell broke loose. The Guardia Civil had to call for reinforcements.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

I been to a couple of forum meet ups but thankfully they have always been really friendly and its been a pleasure to meet up with the peeps from them xxx

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Yes, that's my (rather limited) experience, too. The problem with forums is that the written word is quite a terse form of communication. You don't get the inflections, or facial expressions or body language that we all rely on so much - even if we don't realise it.
With only the words on the screen to go by, some individuals are too quick to take offense, or if the words are ambiguous, get taken the wrong way. I've always assumed that if there is any possible interpretation that is NOT offensive, then that's what the author meant. I also make it a point that if I'm going to insult someone online, they'll be in doubt whatsoever that they've been insulted :eek: Anything else is just my poor expression, or a misunderstanding. :thumbup:

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Thats correct, you can easily get keys cut that just open the car, but won`t start it :confused:

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

My 1.50€ key works just like to original, but my car is not that new, nor top of the range. But as you say, to open a car and steal from it, a copy key is fine.

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

:blink: What do you drive, a trabant? :rofl:

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

And what's wrong with a Trabant ?

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Was there supposed to be a laughing smilie on the end of that or were you seriously questioning what's wrong with a trabant? :confused:

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

What is one :confused:

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant

http://czechmatediary.com/wp-content...10-trabant.jpg

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

Thank you :wub: - i suppose it was cute in its day ;) :D

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

That`s a 2010 model. ;);)

Re: Disclosing private information.
 

At the fear of mixing threads, the Trabi also needs a fuel additive just to drive.

I was in Germany in October 1989 when it all happened. I had to drive from the western north, Schleswig Holstein, to Bavaria, a journey I had done many times, staying well clear of the dreaded East.

It was the long way round, but having heard of the wall coming down, I decided to drive straight through, in a Mercedes, but a small one.

I got lost several times, and finally asked my way in a place called Hildburghausen, only ten miles from my destination.

The respectable looking man looked at my small Mercedes with a West German number plate and started kicking the side of it.

I then asked him in English for directions and he apologised and directed me to what used to be the border, two days previously.