Thursday, March 17, 2011

Protecting your identity

It’s amazing how much of our personal information is floating around out there. Between what Google gleans from our online searches, to our shopping preferences on Amazon, and any information we share intentionally via blogs, Facebook or Twitter, the Internet is filled with our personal information. Help ease your fears- look to see how your government helps to protect your online and offline identity.

Educate yourself:
Tools available from the Kansas Attorney General for citizens to keep safe on the net:
http://www.netsafekansas.com/home/

Tips for parents to teach their children about staying safe online:
http://www.netsafekansas.com/content/page/title/Parents

Educate yourself on the different types of Internet crimes with information from the FBI:
http://www.ic3.gov/preventiontips.aspx

Learn about mail and Internet fraud with information from the United States Postal Service, Division of Inspection Service:
http://www.deliveringtrust.com/learn/

Keep on top of scams:
Internet crime alerts from the FBI:
http://www.ic3.gov/media/2011/110310.aspx

Use the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) tools to keep safe and keep alert on scams:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/tech/privacy.shtm

Watch the Internet fraud alerts:
https://www.ifraudalert.org/

What to do:
File a complaint for Internet fraud and crimes with the FBI:
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Report online or offline child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2936

Remember the rules of “THINK BEFORE YOU POST,” a campaign of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:
http://tcs.cybertipline.com/knowthedangers8.htm

Teach others how to keep their identity safe with safety curriculum and lesson plans from the U.S. Congress:
http://www.isafe.org/

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, use the FTC’s tools for getting back on track:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//

Article contact: Kim Harp

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