TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- Without the pictures and wall posts, information on Facebook can look almost identical to the criteria needed to apply for a credit card online. Your name, email address, phone number, education history, employment information and even your personal address can be listed.
“We see it almost daily, where we get a report of somebody being scammed or an attempt to steal some of that information,” said Leelanau County Detective Sergeant Clint Kerr.
No longer do thieves need to pick-pocket or purse snatch. With the right information, your entire bank account is right at their fingertips.
“They are thieves that are not going to break into your house and come through the window...they are going to break in through your computer and access your information. They don't even need to be in this country they can be overseas somewhere,” Kerr said.
While there are risks to having a profile on a social website like Facebook, there are also simple ways to protect yourself. There are little tricks that can go a long way. For starters, when posting your birthday, do not include the year. Also, you can list the city and state where you live but omit your personal address. And remember to update your privacy settings.
“People just need to use common sense, and sometimes we are all negligent. But, anything you put on your computer can be used by others…you just need to be cautious on what you put out there because it is out there for all the world to see,” Kerr said.
