Warning to UK tourists who take selfies on holiday over 'serious' risk - Birmingham Live

Warning to UK tourists who take selfies on holiday over 'serious' riskAn expert has warned how even by taking a selfie on holiday could let burglars know you're away, while also voiding your

home insuranceCommentsTravelHannah Ahmed11:04, 20 May 2025Updated 12:43, 20 May 2025An expert has warned how simply taking a selfie on holiday could let burglars know you're away, voiding

your home insurance(Image: iStockphoto) With the summer season approaching, thousands of UK tourists are getting ready to fly out to countries with more sun, sea and sand than in Britain,

with the hopes of getting that perfect snap for Instagram or Facebook.

However, it could be this action which may seriously impact the validity of your home insurance.

‌ Specialists at Forum Insurance have shared how a selfie with the sun and sea may seem idyllic, but could invalidate your policy if a robber was to break in and you were found to be clearly

publicising your absence from your property while on holiday.

‌ This is due to a "reasonable care clause," as the company states if you are perceived to be publicly advertising you are away from home, and you experience a break-in, your claim could be

rejected.

READ MORE: 'I'm a UK tourist in Majorca - here's everything I wish I knew before travelling'

Niraj Mamtora, director and home insurance expert at the firm said:

Article continues below “Burglars aren’t just casing streets anymore - they’re scrolling through Instagram stories and Facebook timelines. With this in mind, insurers expect policyholders to

take reasonable care to protect their property, and that now includes being cautious about what you share online.

"For example, posting ‘Off to Greece for two weeks!’ could be considered negligence under policy terms, similar to leaving doors unlocked.

“Another claim was rejected after a homeowner posted a photo of their keys online. Someone saved the image and used it to make a copy of the key.

‌ "Then, while the homeowners were away on holiday, the thief used the copy to break in and rob them. Discreet CCTV inside the house later captured the intruders discussing how they got in,

confirming the method."

Mr Mamtora continued: “Even posts in private groups aren’t foolproof – screenshots can circulate, and insurers may argue you didn’t sufficiently limit audience access.

“Many insurers include clauses requiring policyholders to ‘take care to prevent loss.’ If you publicly broadcast your holiday plans, insurers could argue you breached this duty. Always

assume anything shared online, even privately, could be seen by criminals.”

‌ READ MORE: UK tourists to beat the airport queues in new EU agreement

The specialist explained burglars are far more "digitally savvy" these days, even sending false friend request to access private images which could lead to them concluding you are away from

home - and your items are unguarded.

He said: “Burglars are far more digitally savvy than most people realise."

‌ “They often monitor public profiles or send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts. Even something as simple as tagging yourself at the airport or sharing a boarding pass

photo can give criminals a clear window of opportunity.

“Posting real-time updates from your holiday accommodation or tagging the location in stories can further confirm that your home is empty."

Mr Mamtora continued: "We’re also seeing more cases where seemingly harmless posts, like asking for a dog sitter or counting down the days to your trip, are used by burglars to plan their

break-ins. In many cases, they’ll cross-reference this information with Google Maps to confirm addresses.

Article continues below “All of this not only puts your property at risk but could also be seen by insurers as failing to take reasonable care, potentially voiding any claim.”