Increasingly, we’re leaving our digital fingerprints over whatever we do. You might be LinkedIn, on Facebook, happily sharing your snaps on Flickr, and, of course, you’re a blogger on Independent Minds.


But, aside from the last one, obviously, you might want to take a little care with your digital shadow. Especially if you are up to no good.


Take, for example, Pete Leary, an Australian restaurateur at the Seagrass in Melbourne (no, me neither – looks nice though). He was left holding a hefty unpaid bill when five young diners bolted after ploughing their way through the menu, pairing oysters, trout and red emperor with some expensive wines, slipped out for a cigarette - and never returned.


But cunning Pete, left with an unpaid bill of A$520, remembered one of the diners asking about a former waitress, whom he then contacted. She, modern thinker that she obviously is, suggested they check through some contacts on Facebook.


Looking for a ringleader, Pete "searched a few names and there in front of us his face came up. He was pictured with his girlfriend who was the only girl in the group. We also knew where he worked, at a nearby restaurant, which was handy. It'd been clear they were in the trade."


Pete contacted the cheeky diner’s boss and within hours the diner returned to apologise and paid the bill - and left a generous tip for the staff. It didn’t help – both he and his girlfriend were sacked.


Facebook – clearly a force for good in an evil world…


Edit: Although Facebook can use its powers in other ways too. The weapon can be turned against you, obviously.