Interacting Online

The Internet can be a great way to meet people who have interests similar to yours. Unfortunately, sometimes people are not always who they seem. Even though you may consider yourself self-sufficient and able to identify signs of danger, you should be extremely careful when sharing any personal information with someone you don't know.

"Social engineering" is a common ploy used to gain access to accounts. Perpetrators get to know and befriend their victims, and then use information provided by an unsuspecting victim to guess a password or secret answer.

Chat/Games/Message Boards/Personals

• When you are chatting, playing games, or posting online, keep in mind you never know with whom you are communicating. For your personal safety and the safety of your online accounts, be very careful about the information you disclose, even if it seems harmless.
• If you decide to meet someone in person, play it safe and take a buddy with you. Let a friend know when and where you will be meeting and prearrange a time to call so they know you are all right. If you have any doubts about the meeting, consider declining the offer. Children should never arrange to meet someone they have only met online.

Job Classifieds

• Make informed decisions before sharing your Social Security number with a potential employer. Most employers will not ask for personal information until you arrive at their offices for an in-person interview and are given a formal job application.
• If you have doubts about a company's legitimacy, research the company using web sites operated by the Better Business Bureau and the United States Federal Trade Commission.
• Don't provide credit card or bank account numbers, or engage in any financial transactions over the phone or online with a potential employer/recruiter. Exercise caution when dealing with prospective job contacts outside of the United States.