Prevention Works

Consider the Safety of Seniors during Older Americans Month

May is Older Americans Month, a month we can all appreciate. We all have older individuals in our lives whom we care for dearly, and most of us will be in their shoes one day as well. Although we need to consider the safety of our elders year-round, it's important to take this one month to really concentrate our efforts toward their protection and the prevention of crimes targeting seniors.

According to the Administration on Aging, the older population is defined as persons 65 years or older, and there will be about 72.1 million older persons by 2030, representing 19 percent of the population. With an increasing number of older persons comprising the overall U.S. population, elder fraud and abuse are only going to become more prevalent, widespread threats. Unfortunately, crimes against seniors are already heavily underreported because many seniors feel ashamed and embarrassed or do not possess the capacity to report the crimes.   

Sid Kirchheimer from the AARP Bulletin reported earlier this year that “scam artists steal a documented $3 billion a year from the 55-plus population, a mere fraction of the actual amount, considering that only an estimated 4 percent of retirement-age victims — just one in 25, according to various studies — ever report those crimes.” Furthermore, according to the MetLife study, “Broken Trust: Elders, Family & Financers,” an estimated one million seniors lose over $2.6 billion from financial abuse in the U.S. annually.

As if being swindled out of a lifetime of savings isn’t bad enough, many senior citizens also face the threat of physical abuse or neglect. These crimes go largely unreported as well because of fear of retaliation, lack of physical and/or cognitive ability to report, or because they don’t want to get the abuser (90 percent of whom are family members) in trouble, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.

This year, in observance of Older Americans Month, the National Crime Prevention Council’s President and CEO, Ann M. Harkins, will unveil NCPC's new elder abuse and elder fraud prevention materials on May 16, 2013, at the 19th Annual Older Americans Information and Health Fair sponsored by the Dallas Area Agency on Aging and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit. These new materials will be available on NCPC’s website along with our current resources, which we encourage all to review and share. Some quick tips to ensure safer seniors include

Avoiding fraud

• It’s shrewd, not rude to hang up on suspicious telemarketers
• Don’t give personal information to people you don’t know unless you initiated the contact
• Don’t let yourself get pressured into a verbal agreement or signing a contract
• Be skeptical of online charitable solicitations and other online offers. If interested, ask to receive the information in the mail and check to be sure the company is legitimate
• Never agree to pay for products or services in advance
• Get estimates and ask for references on home repair offers and other products or services
• If you suspect fraud, contact your local law enforcement agency immediately

Detecting physical abuse or neglect

• Physical injuries like large bruises, pressure marks, broken bones, abrasions, burns, and bed sores
• Drastic and inexplicable shifts in the person’s financial situation, such as not enough food in the house or utilities being turned off
• Degradation in the person’s daily upkeep, such as personal hygiene, or unusual weight loss or gain
• Isolation from or a new unwillingness to talk to close friends, or a avoidance of certain topics
• A withdrawal from the person’s normal activities not explained by age alone
• Report concerns to a local adult protective services agency or to local law enforcement. You don’t have to prove abuse is taking place to say something to the authorities, but they need your tips to further investigate potential abuse.

April 1st kicks off Personal Security Awareness Month

April 1^st kicks off Personal Security Awareness Month (PSAM).  It’s a month designed to raise awareness about personal security options and deliver valuable knowledge and life-saving advice to men and women across the globe. Throughout April, SHOLDIT and other personal protection experts, law enforcement professionals, and companies will partner up to spread the word of PSAM’s mission and inform the public on ways to stay safe. SHOLDIT will also donate ten percent of its online profits in the month of April to the National Crime Prevention Council as a way to help the organization further its efforts to keep people, themselves, and their families safe from crime. 

We had the opportunity to get more information from SHOLDIT about PSAM. For more information visit www.PersonalSecurityAwarenessMonth.com.

 

Q:        Why did SHOLDIT create PSAM?

The need for Personal Security Awareness Month was created because we want to raise awareness about the fact that crime rates across the globe are on the rise and there is a strong need for people to be more aware. Yes, there are already sources and experts out there, but PSAM’s purpose is to be the watchdog that delivers valuable information on trends, cases, and expert resources to allow the people to stay informed and make their own educated decisions on steps for prevention. 

Q.        Tell us about the launch Event on April 1^st:

This free event will offer valuable knowledge and experience on topics ranging from parking lot security and survival mindset to vehicle safety and beyond.  A wide range of security experts will teach you how to be safe and aware on April 1, 2013, at the Bellevue University Campus in Sarpy County, NE, from 4:30pm to 6:45pm. The event will feature top ranking police officers, security experts from Sarpy and Cass county Sheriffs, Clark International, Leonum Advisors, Palladin Consulting Group, Jones Automotive, Civil Dispatch, and others.  Valuable Information from the event, including videos, will be available online shortly after the event.

 Q.        What are you doing nationally?

SHOLDIT is doing a national push to bring awareness to Personal Security Awareness Month.  Our efforts have already been featured in a wide range of national press outlets. We want to reach people to remind them to stay aware of the dangers, how to try to outthink the criminals, and stay out of reach of their quick and clever tactics.

 Q.        Are you going to do this every year?

Yes, we plan to continue to grow the event next year and hope to make PSAM a nationally (and internationally) recognized month each April.  We need people to get involved and spread the word! We also are looking for emerging trends, new techniques to keep the public safe, and people who are willing to share their own personal stories in an effort to help others avoid the same kind of victimization.

 

Q.        What do you hope to accomplish?

It all comes down to saving lives and or saving people from becoming victims.  By hosting PSAM annually, our goal is to refresh the tips they already know and also to share new trends that con artists are using and how each of us can prevent victimization by being ahead of their game.

  Editor’s Note:  The National Crime Prevention Council sends a special thanks to SHOLDIT and Ms. Angela Lee, founder, for contributing to NCPC’s continued efforts to “Take A Bite Out Of Crime^®.”

This Valentine’s Day Share the Love, Not Your Information

Like most holidays, Valentine’s Day has extended to the web.  With the click of a button, you can deliver flowers and candy, make reservations at a romantic restaurant, or search for that special someone through an online dating service.

The Internet today has become an invaluable resource in both our personal and professional lives.  However, as technology advances, so do the techniques cybercriminals use to gain access to our computer networks and personal information. If each of us becomes more aware of cybersecurity risks and implements a few simple steps, we can all make a big difference.

Below find tips from the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) on how to protect your personal information online.

• Be careful supplying personal information - Unless you trust a site, don't give your address, passwords, or financial information. Look for indications that the site uses SSL to encrypt your information (such as the ‘s’ in ‘https’).
• Limit cookies - To make sure that other sites are not collecting personal information about you without your knowledge, choose to only allow cookies for the web site you are visiting and block or limit cookies from a third-party. If you are using a public computer, you should make sure that cookies are disabled.
• Do not use your primary email address in online submissions - Submitting your email address could result in spam. If you do not want your primary email account flooded with unwanted messages, consider opening an additional email account for use online.
• Avoid using debit cards for online purchases - Credit cards usually offer some protection against identity theft and may limit the monetary amount you will be responsible for paying.
• Devote one credit card to online purchases - Consider opening a credit card account for use only online. Keep a minimum credit line on the account to limit the amount of charges an attacker can accumulate.

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and we are all called on to ACT or Achieve Cybersecurity Together. For more information, please visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

Posted by the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign

Taking the Issue of Sexual Assault Seriously

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. Before you cozy up and get hit by cupid’s arrow, you need to make sure that whatever activity you participate in, you are safe from sexual predators. Many of us have heard our parents or adult influences warn us about the dangers of sexual predators. How long will it be or how many unfortunate news stories will occur before people, especially young adults, take this issue seriously? Rape and sexual assault are no joking matter. I have lived on a college campus for three years now and I hear more people joking about it than people caring to stop it. Living on a college campus is great; you get to meet new people, go different places, enjoy new experiences, and become responsible for your own life. However, this responsibility is new to many young adults and if you are not careful and make wise choices, you can become a victim.

According to the Uniform Crime Report [1] there were 83,425 rapes reported in 2011. The CDC [2] (Centers for Disease Control) stated that about 80 percent of female rape victims were first raped at age 25 or younger.  That is a huge number of kids we’re talking about in high school and college.  The CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) [3] showed that one-third of  the women in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. In the 2009 CVS [4] (Crime Victimization Survey) conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics it was highlighted that 70 percent of violent crimes against women were committed by someone they knew. To me, those statistics are astounding, and terrifying.

Although I live on a very small college campus, I still know people who have been raped or sexually assaulted. Attending a college party or meeting with a friend alone in their dorm can turn out to be dangerous if you don’t know the other students very well.

There are other dangerous situations in which people have been victims of rape or sexual assault. With social networking and dating sites becoming increasingly prominent, you often hear about friends meeting people they don’t know online, or even going to meet this stranger in person.  According to the Enough-is-Enough [7] website, 65 percent of online sex offenders used social networking sites to get home or school information about a victim. Meeting with or even talking to someone you don’t know can be extremely risky. You can never be sure that the person you are talking to is actually who they say they are.

There are some simple rules I live by that have helped me and my friends out of potentially hazardous situations:

1)      Always go out with a group of friends; that way you can watch out for them and they can watch out for you.

2)      Never put your drink down or leave it unattended.

3)      Trust your guts; if it doesn’t feel right, don’t force yourself to do something just to appease your friends.

Many of those tips may seem like common sense. However, common sense tends to get pushed aside for things like drinking alcohol or trying to look “cool.” Don’t sacrifice your safety for your image or peer pressure. Go out, have fun, and meet friends, but most importantly make sure to be safe. For more tips and information on sexual violence, visit RAINN [5] (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network). For more information, resources, and strategies see the NCPC tip sheet on date rape [8] or visit ncpc.org [6].

[1] http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/forcible-rape

[2] http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1214_sexual_violence.html

[3] http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf

[4] http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv09.pdf

[5] http://www.rainn.org/

[6] http://www.ncpc.org/topics/violent-crime-and-personal-safety

[7] http://www.internetsafety101.org/Predatorstatistics.htm#_ftnref

[8] http://www.ncpc.org/resources/files/pdf/training/Date%20Rape%202012.pdf

Cover Up! Protect Your Privacy on Data Privacy Day

We divulge a lot of personal information online. If not publicly and intentionally via social media and cell apps, we do so inadvertently through online shopping and banking, emailing, and even just by browsing through the latest cute videos or pictures.  And we browse on more than our computers.  Nowadays we can disseminate all our personal information instantly from our phones and tablets.  If you’re not careful, the results can be devastating.

In 2010, 8.6 million households in the U.S. had at least one member age 12 or older who experienced one or more types of identity theft, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.  In October 2012, in South Carolina alone, 3.6 million social security numbers were hacked.   And in recent years we’ve heard too many tragic stories of school-aged children taking their own lives because of cyberbullying that took place online and with cell phones.

To encourage people to take responsibility for protecting their own privacy and data online, the National Cyber Security Alliance and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Stop.Think.Connect. campaign started Data Privacy Day in 2008, which is observed in the U.S and Canada.  January 28, Data Privacy Day, commemorates the 1981 signing of Convention 108 – the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection.

The National Crime Prevention Council is a national partner of the Stop.Think.Connect. campaign, which reminds Americans that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. The national public awareness campaign is aimed at increasing the understanding of cyber threats and empowering the American public to be safer and more secure online. The NCPC recommends individuals review its Mind What You Do Online booklet from its website, review privacy settings for your computer, cell, and tablet applications, and check out the Stop.Think.Connect. Quick Tips page for incident response and reporting tips.

A few basic tips include

• Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
• Unique account, unique password: Separate passwords for every account helps to thwart cybercriminals.
• Protect your money: When banking and shopping, ensure the site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with “https://” or “shttp://”, which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information.
• Back it up: Protect your valuable work, music, photos, and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely.
• Post only about others as you have them post about you: Post messages that do not include threats; insults; offensive, name-calling; teasing; or language that excludes individuals or groups.

Lucky ‘13

Happy New Year’s! Let’s make a wager to make 2013 a safe year, double or nothing!

Stakes were high in 2012 and odds are 2013 will follow suit. Before the confetti could settle the race was on—the political race, that is. We started 2012 naming Mitt Romney as the new Republican candidate to run against President Obama. Throughout the next 12 months we were tested—tested by our faith, our government, our country, and ourselves.  We experienced tragedies in Aurora, CO, and Newtown, CT. We witnessed politics from Obama’s re-election to CIA scandals and a fiscal cliff. We united over victories and outstanding feats from our USA Olympic teams, cried together over the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, and treated ourselves to iPhone 5s and Kindle Fires.

With everything we can’t control, let’s take a chance and make a 2013 resolution we can manage—personal safety.  

Practice fire drills and emergency routes at home, work, and school.  Where’s the nearest exit (from your desk, the bathroom, the cafeteria, etc.)? Where do you meet outside? Make sure your kids know what to do if they’re separated from their class in an emergency. In a natural disaster, know where you’ll be relocated, or which family members or friends have room for you.

Get involved in your or your child’s school. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date including cell and work numbers, emergency contacts, and addresses.  Know the teachers, principals, and staff. In case of an emergency, the more you know and pre-plan the better. 

Join Neighborhood Watch. Know the people in your community, their cars, and their pets. A simple knock at the door a line such as “I’m locked out of my house,” “I think I hit your neighbor’s cat,” or “My car won’t start” can be fatal. Knowing who and what is around can keep you and your family safe.  If you don’t have a Neighborhood Watch, start one!

What you type can and will be held against you. Use the internet and technology responsibly.  We use the internet for everything now—dating, school, shopping, listening to music, getting the news, and keeping in touch with friends and family. Whether it’s your latest gossip, credit card number, or profile saying you enjoy long, romantic walks on the beach, once it’s there, it’s there.

Odds are stacked against us that 2013 will be hardship-free. Let’s do our part and make a resolution to be the solution.

To learn more about personal safety, Neighborhood Watch, and how you can get involved in your community, visit www.ncpc.org, www.mcgruff.org, and www.celebratesafecommuntities.org.

See something. Feel something. What does that really mean?

By Lt. James Perez

Fairfield Ct. Police Dept

And Sarita Coletrane, NCPC

Why do some of us find ourselves becoming victims of crime while others seem to slip past unscathed? Some attribute it to luck while others simply don’t know why. One thing is for sure; we all have or can have more control in preventing or reducing our chances of becoming victims.

Every one of us has a sixth sense that we can develop to make us increasingly aware of our surroundings and less vulnerable to criminal intent. Like a muscle, we must give our sixth sense a workout to become more effective.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines sixth sense as “a power of perception seemingly independent of the five senses; keen intuition.”  It further describes it as “having power to discern the true nature of a person or situation.”  During a crisis or traumatic event, our mind works like a hard drive of a computer. What you put in is exactly what will come out. By using sound judgment, following suggested safety tips, and mentally playing out scenarios, one can sharpen intuition, which can lead to sharper perception. Think about how many times you second guess yourself regarding a strong negative feeling or sensing that something is wrong. We tend to shrug it off to the point that we talk ourselves out of the very mechanism that’s there to protect us.  During this holiday time of shopping, attending holiday functions with family and friends, eating out at restaurants, and visiting the holiday lights, it is especially important to be cognizant of your surroundings and safety. The next time you get that uncanny feeling, don’t dismiss it. It can protect you and your family from becoming  victims of crime.

Click here for holiday safety tips and holiday safety tips for last minute shoppers

Armstrong Gets Strong-Armed: Consequences of Cheating in Competitive Cycling

When most of us think of bicycle-riding, we are filled with the nostalgic, yet terrifying, memories of that afternoon when we first learned to ride—the day asphalt became a new, terrorizing entity. We were excessively attired in extra-strength nylon and reinforced plastic to withstand a head-on collision with a dump truck.  You robotically sauntered up to the ferocious, steel deathtrap of a shiny, 14-inch Huffy.  Strapped on your helmet, tightened your elbow and knee pads, took a deep breath, pushed off, and started pedaling while pleading, “Please, don’t let go, Daddy!!” Naturally, he did. Splat!! Over time, we forgave our fathers, lost some of the protective gear, and became the adventurous, daring, “look-ma-no-hands!” bicycle rider. The dangers of bicycle riding subsided ….or did they?

Most of us gave up the bicycle once two wheels and a bell took a backseat to four wheels and an engine. However, some pedal into a bicycle-riding career, then mature into “cycling,” and ride competitively. Amidst the competitive nature of sports, some athletes seek an edge over their competition by “doping” or unlawfully using prescription/synthetic drugs – in other words, they cheat.  Remember your mom’s forewarning:  “cheaters never win”? Lance Armstrong became a household name after seven consecutive Tour de France titles, a public battle with testicular cancer, and through Livestrong®—a foundation working to inspire and empower those affected by the deadly disease.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) recently investigated Armstrong and the US Postal Service Pro-Cycling Team (USPS Team) and uncovered a more than decade-long doping conspiracy.  In the Reasoned Decision by the USADA, they are accused of using erythropoietin (EPO), a peptide hormone that acts on the bone marrow to increase production of red blood cells. In the wake of the report, Armstrong has been stripped of all titles, banned from cycling, and forced to step-down as chairman of Livestrong®. So maybe your mom was right.   

The career-ending scandal leaves many Armstrong supporters ashamed, angry, and heartbroken—reminding us of the over-arching consequences from using performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids and EPO. Not only do performance enhancers insult the dynamic of team sports and the competition of a natural adversary, skilled through hard work and dedication, but they have serious side effects to your health. The World Anti-Doping Agency highlights some of the hazards of performance enhancers on athletes in “Dangers of Doping.”

Being a public figure and an inspiration to millions for over a decade, Lance Armstrong was idolized by fans young and old. Let Armstrong’s doping scandal be a warning to anyone considering doping to achieve his or her competitive edge. Bottom-line: doping is cheating—your team, your fans, your sport, and yourself.

To learn more about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs, visit National Crime Prevention Council and the United States Anti-Doping Agency.  

Don’t Get Scammed After the Storm

Now that Sandy has ripped up the eastern seaboard, flooding homes, tearing off roofs, and bringing down trees, people are beginning to clean up.  There will be a great many good contractors out there that will give you a reasonable price to conduct thorough work.  But there will also be the unscrupulous characters that will overcharge, use inferior products, take a deposit and never return to do the work, and otherwise try to scam you out of your hard-earned money.

Even though you’re in a hurry to get repairs done and debris removed.  Be sure to check out contractors and other repair people before hiring them.

• Use contractors and service people that you’ve used before. Or ask your neighbors or friends for recommendations.
• Get several estimates before choosing someone to do the job.
• Make sure to get a signed contract or estimate before allowing anyone to perform work on your home.
• Check your state’s licensing agency to make sure that your contractor is licensed.  Ask to see proof of insurance.
• Stay away from the guy driving down the road, drumming up business as he goes along.  He may claim that he’s doing work for your neighbor or has materials leftover from another job.  These are almost always scammers.
• Don’t pay with cash.  Although many small contractors don’t accept credit cards, they will accept checks.
• Don’t give service people money to buy materials.  Ideally, contractors will buy the materials up front and bill you later.  If not, them at the store and pay for the materials there.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau or other consumer protection groups in your area.

Although there are people who will try to take advantage of others during hard times, there are also communities across the country that will be pulling together in the wake of Sandy’s destruction to help each other dig out, repair, and come together as neighbors.   While watching out for yourself, please remember to help out others.

Cyberbullying Prevention Tips Just a Click Away During Cybersafety Awareness Week

There is definitely tons of information available online and is just a click away for so many online users today, specifically for teens and young adults.  CyberSafety Awareness week brings forth a time to reinforce the detriment and serious impact that lurks behind the computer screens for numerous teens that fall victim to cyberbullying.  Cyberbullying is a problem that affects almost half of all American teens.  The American Academy of Pediatrics calls cyberbullying the “most common online risk for all teens.”

Today, countless youth are literally fighting to endure the cruel and harsh words that class mates express from their own computers and with the use of online games.

Cyberbullies can be classmates, online acquaintances, and even anonymous users, but most often they actually know their victims.

Whether you’ve been a victim of cyberbullying, know someone who has been cyberbullied, or have even cyberbullied yourself, there are effective steps youth can take to stop cyberbullying and stay cyber-safe.

How Can I Prevent Cyberbullying?

• Refuse to pass along cyberbullying messages
• Tell friends to stop cyberbullying
• Block communication with cyberbullies
• Report cyberbullying to a trusted adult

You can also help prevent cyberbullying by:

• Speaking with other students, as well as teachers and school administrators, to develop rules against cyberbullying
• Raising awareness of the cyberbullying problem in your community by holding an assembly and creating fliers to give to younger kids or parents
• Sharing NCPC’s anti-cyberbullying message with friends

Don’t forget that even though you can’t see a cyberbully or the bully’s victim, cyberbullying can cause long-lasting effects to its victim and unfortunately in some cases, trigger acts of suicide. If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online. Delete cyberbullying. Don’t write it. Don’t forward it.

Find the latest information on the NCPC cyberbullying campaign; it’s just a click away http://www.ncpc.org/topics/cyberbullying