A travel expert has issued an urgent warning for holidaymakers to avoid posting the exact dates of their trips on social media. Tim Schmidt, from All Worlds Travel Blog, cautioned that sharing such details can alert potential burglars that a home will be unoccupied.
“You might think it’s harmless enough, but the internet is a tricky thing,” Schmidt said. “All a burglar needs is your name and your dates – they can easily find your home.” He advised using private messages rather than public posts for any requests related to pet care or other tasks that hint at absence.
Schmidt also highlighted the risks of publicly asking for airport taxi services, which reveals when you will be leaving. Similarly, countdown posts on social media act as a “calendar invite for burglars”. He urged travellers to ensure their accounts are set to private or to wait until they return home before posting.
Care should be taken with photos too. Boarding passes, hotel keys and travel documents can contain sensitive information that could be used for identity theft. Even out-of-office email replies, if they include dates, could be exploited by criminals.
