Using social networking sites may lead to premium rises
Burglars are robbing homes of people who say on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter that they are not home and may face higher premiums from Legal and General, the Daily Mail claims.
L&G warns warn that parents could see their premiums rise even if only their children are members of popular sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
L&G commissioned a report called The Digital Criminal, prepared by reformed thief Michael Fraser, star of the BBC's Beat The Burglar series. Fraser said: “There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that burglars are using social networks to identify likely targets.
Internet shopping for burglars
“They gain confidence by learning more about them, what they are likely to own and when they are likely to be out of the house.
“I call it ‘internet shopping for burglars’. It is incredibly easy to use social networking sites to target people, and then scope out more information on their actual home using other internet sites like Google Street View, all from the comfort of the sofa.”
On Twitter, 92% accepted the stranger as a friend, as did 13% of Facebook users, potentially allowing the stranger to learn about that person's interests, location and movements.
An excuse to raise premiums?
Legal & General may questioning customers about whether any of their family members belong to any social networking sites.
L&G was accused of using the popularity of social networking sites as an excuse to increase premiums.
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