Facebook

[Elliebes]

Went to sign on today and got asked to take part in a digital survey they were doing and one of the questions was did I have a facebook? Why do the DWP want to know if I have a facebook? Ok they asked questions like do you do online banking, online shopping, etc etc....sorry but after the treatment Ive had from this place what's their game now? Is this a another method of spying? Not that Ive got anything to hide. I just thought it was weird.

[rebel11]

Hi Elli

 

Maybe they want to be friends:wink:

 

Theres probably nothing in it, but only give answers to stuff thats not going to breach your personal security details.

[Elliebes]

HA HA HA! Well they wouldnt get into it anyway - would they?

[rebel11]

Could be a new service, speed dating8)

[antone]

This is a guess, but a complaint I often heard from customers when I worked there was that the DWP doesn't offer enough services online. Even the ability to make claims online is fairly recent and limited. So probably they're trying to find out if it's worth their while investing more resources in this area, and to gauge the extent to which any services might be used.

 

It sounds harmless enough to me, though if they start asking for your login details I might start to worry

[flumps1976]

It's news to me, I haven't been advised about asking if people have a facebook account.

There has recently been anew initiative launched about becoming more digital and each office has a digital champion!

I would imagine it is becuase they are trying to move into a more modern day approach, and I suppose they are looking at peoples internet habits so thaty maybe they will try and link in the current direct gov site to a facebook and twitter link.

The only people in JCP/DWP who can access facebook in works time are fraud. They certainly wouldn't ask if you had a facebook they would simply search for you anyway. Someone in our office (staff member not customer btw!) was caught accessing facebook via their mobile phone during their break and got hauled over hot coals for it.

[jadeybags]

Very much doubt there is anything sinister in it at all tbh. They are probably just trying to get with the times lol

Because I hate to say it but if they ever suspect someone of fraud, & regardless of how you have your privacy settings on there up to snuff, they CAN & DO have access to your facebook & CAN & DO use it as evidence if they need to. Harsh but true.

[pistachio]

Reason enough to be very careful what you put on there if you ask me

[jadeybags]

Absolutely

[Elliebes]

Yes they did ask about twitter but in their opinion thought twitter was crap! I said I have a twitter account but hardly look at it...but yes be careful what you put on you FB. Oh and asked if I used the NHS direct site.

[Life-Goes-On]

I wonder when they will start asking "Do you use C.A.G.?"

[Elliebes]

Facebook

Twitter

NHS Direct

Online shopping

Online banking

DWP site

Do you have a PC

How many times a week do you use it

Do you have internet

What are you wearing?

Can I have your phone number?

 

Cant think of anything else ha ha!

[JrnyFan4Life]

You'll get b***er all from my Facebook page if you searched for me, got everything set to "friends only" ;-)

[jadeybags]

You'll get b***er all from my Facebook page if you searched for me, got everything set to "friends only" ;-)

 

 

haha dont bet on it!

Seriously, many a people have kicked off because they have used their facebook pics & status updates in court to prove they are living with someone for example. Google it. One woman said she was going to complain, after she was found guilty of benefit fraud, because she was claiming as single, yet had pics of her wedding on farcebook ROFL. She said she had her profile set as family only & was bothered that they could see pics of her kids.

I dont know how she got on with that complaint, but fraud investigators can access peoples bank accounts, facebook, & houses if they are really determined.

[Nystagmite]

if you set your profile to friends only, if you've not blocked someone and they're not on your friends list, they can see your profile picture.

[caledfwlch]

if you set your profile to friends only, if you've not blocked someone and they're not on your friends list, they can see your profile picture.

 

I was rather unchuffed to discover how unprivate my facebook account on maximum privacy settings is.

 

If I get one of these questionairres, questions such as facebook will be left blank or with a "whats that then?"

 

I find its best not to encourage them, and they can hardly sanction you for not saying if you have facebook or not, or can they under the new regime

[RaeUK]

Mmm. My personal ethos is that I see no problem with interacting online in a normal everyday manner. It doesn't matter whether that's Facebook, Forums or whatever. I'll either post under my real name (as on here) or, at the very least, my name will appear in my profile. Online is one of my primary socialising methods. I can't afford to go to a pub and I'm not that clever at walking about. Neither - as far as I'm aware! - have I anything to hide. In that vein, I have no qualms about the DWP looking for me online - they only have to google my name. So, if I get a message on Facebook that 'DWP Fraud Investigator Big Jim wants to be your friend' it wouldn't bother me... 8)

[Elliebes]

Its always best to beware. I have nothing to hide. There is only me on my facebook. I have my photos set to only me. But as you say the fraud techies can get in your underwear if they have to.......why facebook why not myspace or other social sites? I guess the answer is its the most popular....its a wonder they didnt ask me if I was in any dating sites LOL

 

I noticed that the guy withheld my signing sheet until I answered the digital survey. Then I said to him after doing all my stuff dont I have to sign something? Because it looked like I was going to be leaving without giving my signature so he said yes you can sign after youve done this...(the survey).

 

Just make sure your facebook is clean and cant be used for anything by them for fraud or whatever it is they do with it. Ive deleted loads of stuff off mine anyway.

[jadeybags]

I think if they use these sites right, then it's fair enough. As long as they aren't using old pics on there to claim someone is living as a couple. I mean, I have pics of an ex sitting on my kitchen floor leaning up against the cupboard looking right at home. But I haven't lived with someone for 10 years. I have heard of one that they manipulated the truth with.

Once more people become aware that their facebook isn't as private as they think, they'll be more careful what they put on there. But we all like to show off, so at the mo facebook is a good tool for the courts. I guess DWP etc may as well make the most of that while they still can.

In fact we had a lady on this site this year that said at an IUC they showed they had been on her social networking site & noticed the exchanges of posts saying thanks for some work she did for them. So they knew she was starting up a business.

[JrnyFan4Life]

I'm very careful about what I say on Facebook, that's why my status updates are few and far between lol.

[pistachio]

I hardly ever use it now, the whole privacy thing doesn't sit too well with me. I wonder how many people claiming unfit to work have uploaded pics of them playing golf and the like.

[jadeybags]

I have my council as a 'friend' on farcebook anyway lol Only because they post the latest local news on there.

[phoenix11]

I'd say at a rough guess Flumps explanation is more likely.

 

I'm finding agencies are now sending emails to say "Follow us on Twitter/ Facebook" for all the up to date jobs etc. Thing is, I do not and will not have an account with either or any other 'social-networking' sites. A) they have long ceased to be just social-networking sites as they're used so much for business now (and wads of unwanted carp), B) when I tried Twitter I found it to be the most frustrating and boring thing imagineable and C) more worringly is how much of your privacy you give away.

 

I'm not sure on the outcome of the privacy debacle with Facebook, but if anyone believes that they can just remove 'proof' of things they don't want to be found out - forgetaboutit!! As far as I'm aware, Facebook own and keep anything that is put up on their website.

 

If the DWP really want to go rummaging and require evidence, they will get it.

Edited May 27, 2011 by phoenix11
missed a bit out

[Elliebes]

Yes Ive got a friend on my FB who is claiming unfit for work because of alcoholism but is on holiday at he moment in her property in Turkey. This did cross my mind. Lets face it if they look at you they going to look at your friends too....that goes without saying.

[jadeybags]

Social networking sites are a bit like benefits, once you have been on them, even if you dont use them anymore, it'll always be out there, your details, unfortunately. My details are probably still floating about on Girls date for free, yet I haven't set foot on a dating site for about 5 years LOL