FlashNews provides daily exclusive offbeat pop culture news items
for use by radio/TV producers, on-air talent and print/website
editors. FlashNews clients receive data which include direct
contact numbers to arrange on-air or in-depth interviews. The
content on this page does not include contact information and is
for private personal viewing only. Non-subscribing media
professionals are invited to
request a FlashNews trial.
Internet Users Begging To Be Robbed
Thursday, February 18, 2010 17:22 GMT
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (Wireless Flash - FlashNews) – People who surf the Internet are just begging to be robbed.Sharing vacation plans and whereabouts on a social networking site may seem like a good idea, but people who do so are setting themselves up to come home to a ransacked house.
That’s why web designer Frank Groeneveld co-created PleaseRobMe.com, which lists random Twitter or Facebook status updates that people post proclaiming they’re away from home, making them vulnerable to thieves on the prowl.
He says, “The danger of telling the public where you are is that it leaves one place where you are definitely not: Home. On one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on holiday and on the other we’re telling everyone on the Internet we’re not home.”
By listing them, Groeneveld is hoping people learn a harsh, yet valuable lesson in staying safe by keeping their mouths shut.