How dangerous can giving your postal address out be?

[Oobie-]

As per title.

In this instant, to someone you dont know but is part of the online community you are part of.

For its face value its not exactly private information but with someone wanting to do something with it, its highly possible that it can be used (dangerously) for something. These may not be hugely real issues, but can lead to inconveniences.
Or am I merely picking at paranoia?

Discuss.

[PeterStoba]

Ofcourse something could be done with it, but it's highly unlikely, just as most things are.

[jim]

Well, if somebody misuses that information, I guess there's two extremes

One is the bearable level, whereby they sign you up to various junk mail sites.
The other is where they come round with the intention of smashing up your stuff, or your face. I've met certain people online who've implied that they wouldn't mind partaking in the latter.

If you give them that information, then choose to severely piss them off (although why you'd do that I have no idea) then you're putting yourself at risk, but that's hardly a surprise.

I don't really have any concern with it - my address is provided to everybody who purchases something from me on eBay as far as I know, and I would happily provide it to anyone who bought something off me in the classifieds. Yes it could get you in bother, but only in exactly the same way you could get in a lot of bother in a pub - you've got to make someone so angry that they're desperate to make you suffer. And I don't think many people do that, unless they're confident enough that they can deal with the repercussions.

As for fraud-related stuff, I'd far rather give someone my address than my bank details, I don't think it's much use at all really... let's face it, if you want somebody's address for fraud purposes you'd do much better nicking someone's disposed of mail than trying to befriend someone on the internet.

[Clunk]

It's postmen you have to watch out for.