Facebook boasting

FRAUDSTERS stole £30,000 from a Scots businessman after he boasted on Facebook about his wealth.

Thieves targeted the man because he bragged on the friendship website about his luxury car and boat and skiing trips to the USA.

He was sent an email, purporting to be from Facebook, asking him to confirm details such as his name, date of birth and email address. Crooks then raided his bank account.

Police sources believe the man made himself a target by talking about his lifestyle.

The Government and internet security experts fear that up to 11million Britons are putting themselves at risk of identity fraud by putting their personal details online.

Home Office minister Tony McNulty said recently: "There are certainly hints that there are people fishing through Facebook and other social network sites to elicit personal information which could go towards identity theft."

And Stephen Trilling, of internet security firm Symantec, warned: "Today's criminal is focused on compromising legitimate websites to launch attacks."

In another recent ID theft case, a young woman from Dumfries was robbed of £3000 after revealing on Bebo that she was going to a school reunion.

A thief posing as one of the victim's old school pals got hold of her date of birth and the password she used on auction website eBay.

Within hours, £3000 had been withdrawn from the woman's bank account.