Stop & Think – Use Common Sense

With today’s interactive environment, information can be transported anywhere at the press of a button. But, before you press that “send” button, stop and think – there are thieves and predators out there using the same gadgets to gain information about you. We are led to believe that it is the children and teenagers at risk, but adults are vulnerable, too – many have been bilked out of money, their identity, or had life-threatening actions taken against them. How many times have we heard about some famous personality sending “private” pictures of them self via the Internet? What were they thinking? If you want to have a flirtation on the web, find out whom you are corresponding with and make sure they are for real. Con artists are constantly prowling the Internet, looking for suckers to give up their money. Chat rooms and dating sights are popular places for the romance scammers to operate. They create a “person” and then get to know you. They tell you that they live outside of the United States and are interested in Americans, wanting to strike up a friendship. It starts off innocently, but eventually you become more involved. It may become romantic and you may even talk of marriage, but you have never met them. Beware – this is where they get you. After you are involved, something may come up, and before you know it, you begin to send them money. One day you wake up and realize they got you hook, line and sinker. Another scam is helping a damsel in distress. You meet this wonderful person and an attraction develops. You both decide you want to meet and begin to make arrangements, then an unexpected trip comes up that takes them away. Once in a foreign country, unexpected tragedies begin to happen and they ask for your help. Again, it comes down to sending them money. Remember, there are professional crooks out there making a living on the web. Do not fall for their scams or put yourself in a situation that would allow them to take advantage of you. When dealing with the Internet, social media sites or even your mobile phone, use your brains – stop and think – and use some common sense!