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1. Child Identity Fraud Study

Read this 2022 report done by Javelin Strategy & Research on their Child Identity Fraud Study.   In the report they answer questions like the following:

• Why children under the age of 7 are so vulnerable, and how are parents/guardians making it too easy for criminals to compromise their children?
• How does a strong banking relationship help parents/guardians when a child falls victim to identity fraud?
• What more should banks, credit unions, insurers, ID protection services, government, and law enforcement do to raise awareness about social media risks and their links to ID theft?
• Why should the link between child extortion and cyber bullying to social media use be extremely concerning to parents, guardians, and educators?

2. Help Deter Identity Theft By Freezing Your Credit

Placing a freeze on your credit data is one of the most effective ways to prevent identity thieves from using your info to steal.  Expect it to take 10 minutes of computer time per each adult in your household.  Here is an article from the FTC with more information about what you should know about credit freezes.

And these are the links to the 3 major, and 1 minor credit bureaus with whom you should freeze your credit:

• TransUnion Credit Freeze
• Equifax Credit Freeze
• Experian Credit Freeze
• Innovis Credit Freeze

3. Protect Your Children Online

One of the priorities of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is the protection of our most vulnerable citizens, our children. While the allure of the internet and modern technology is here to stay, danger lurks in chat rooms and social media. Cheezo helps protect children by going undercover to investigate internet predators and by teaching them the safety tools they need to be safe with technology.  Click on the Cheezo image to get the Cheezo booklet that outlines technology safety and tools for parents.

4. Keeping Kids Safe Online

The Internet offers an astounding variety of options for our kids—learning, playing games, interacting with peers and expressing themselves. There can be a downside to all this online activity, however - cyber bullying, predators, identity theft and other threats. Together, we must learn how to navigate the web smartly and safely. 

Browse the Scholastic Partents website for educational videos and content on Cyber Safety geared toward children and parents.

See more on Security @ Home

5. Mortgage Title Fraud or Theft

Refer to this article from the Jefferson County Assessor’s office if you have concerns about mortgage title fraud or theft.

6. Stop Cyberbullying

There are a number of organizations who have developed resources to help you address cyberbullying:

• StopBullying.gov is a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  This site provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.
• Wired Safety provides Internet safety information for children, teens, and adults.
• Master's in Data Science published an article on cyber bullying that includes information about what cyberbullying is, who is at risk as well as tips for educators, parents, and students to learn more.
• Online Master of Legal Studies Programs authored this article on "How Parents and Educators Can Protect Online Privacy"
  

7. Smart Home Devices Bring Convenience and Some Dangers

Traditionally, only a few of your devices at home could connect to the Internet, such as your laptop, smartphone, or gaming console. However today, more and more devices are connecting to the Internet, from your light bulbs and speakers on your TV, to locks on your door or even your car. These connected devices often go by the name of Internet of Things (IoT) or Smart Home devices.

While these connected devices bring a great deal of convenience, they also bring unique dangers.  This article outlines a number of issues with home devices like Nest and Ring. This article offers 8 great tips on things you can do to reduce your risk.