More than a third of posters (39%) have experienced fraudulent activity because they’ve given away too much on social media.

But a quarter (26%) didn’t realise they’d been targeted by fraudsters and one in five didn’t do anything about it. In fact, almost a third just ignored it, according to Get Safe Online.

As part of this year’s Get Safe Online campaign which runs this week, it’s urging people to be aware of what they share as Brits seem to be unclear on what constitutes oversharing online, as well as the consequences.

By using social media to post a location tag, show off about your holiday, let people know about major life milestones such as buying a house or to brag about a new purchase such as a car, this can open you up to identity fraud, theft and privacy invasion.

Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, said: “People are increasingly oversharing on social media and apps without thinking about the consequences, which is why this Get Safe Online Week, we’re reminding you that you don’t always have to give everything about yourself away on social media or your apps.

“Seemingly harmless posts, photos and details in your profile could actually leave your privacy exposed. An innocent location check-in or a photo of your new driving licence for example could be invaluable to criminals, who are expert at putting together snippets about you to build a bigger picture with a view to defrauding you or stealing your identity.

“Think through not just what you’re sharing but who you’re sharing it with. For instance, if you have an open social media account, you’re sharing with the whole world, not just with the people in your own groups. Even if it’s set to private, you can’t be sure it hasn’t been passed on.”