Internet Programs

childsafety

Internet Safety Program for Children and Adults
Every year children are bullied in school, submit to sexting pressures, and are sought out by online predators. Adults and teens unknowingly become victims. Identities are stolen every day by people data mining your information through social networks, email schemes, phone scams, and physical discovery. The FBI Minneapolis Citizens Academy Alumni Association has developed a number of topics to help children, teens, and adults become aware of these illicit practices. The following topics are offered free of charge with each topic lasting about 45 minutes and then a short question and answer period. Participants are encouraged to jump in at any time with questions.

identity theft

Identity theft is rampant today. Unprotected documents containing bank account information, Social Security numbers, and 401K accounts are typical targets. If a thief can get your social security number, he can obtain credit cards, gain access to financial accounts, and pretty much ruin your credit record while spending your financial accounts, and pretty much ruin your credit record while spending your remaining assets! How can my financial data be protected? Email is one of the best methods used to gain access to your information along with callers on the phone. In each case a person is masquerading as a bank person, store credit card agent, or someone of authority in a business you patronize. These people are very good at obtaining information by gaining your trust and, you, unknowingly providing information to them. How often does someone call you asking for information or to clarify account data?  Do you ask why they need this information? Thieves will also go through your garbage looking for bank statements (these contain account information).

phishing

Phishing Schemes
Phishing schemes — no we are not talking about Minnesota fishing but phishing. What is  phishing? Phishing is a way information is acquired from a person or computer usually without the person knowing that their private information is being stolen. The result is what is known as data mining. Perpetrators mine data from social networking sites, by masquerading as a trusted website, through email schemes even through the telephone. How do you guard your private information? How willing are you to provide information about you to total strangers? What information should be guarded?

sexting

Sexting
Did you know that teenagers who engage in sexting (sending nude photographs over the Internet or cell phone) may be breaking a federal law? Sexting images of anyone under the age of 18 that are sent and/or forwarded via electronic means, computer, cell phone, and I-pads may be charged with child pornography. What are the repercussions of having a nude or seminude picture of your teenage son or daughter being forwarded to everyone at their school? Whenever a picture is sent electronically it can never be retrieved.

social media

Social Networks
Social networks are everywhere today. It is simply amazing how teenagers today have 150 or more friends on their social networking site. Really, your son or daughter has 150 friends? What is the definition of a friend versus an acquaintance? Why should I care? Well there are predators out there combing through the teenage social networks looking for their next victim. How? It all depends on what information is posted  on the social website. Many teenagers get an account and begin posting anything and everything: name, photos, address, age, school they attend, likes dislikes, problems with friends, and parents. This is all perfect material for any predator to read and formulate a plan to entrap his next victim. Fortunately, there are ways to protect personal information and still be able to share information with friends while locking out undesirables from your information.