Raising Awareness Awareness raising can cover a huge range of activities: anything that involves people understanding, learning or doing something new; visioning the future; working out how to change something in their lives; or talking to someone else about what they’ve done – all are part of the process of raising awareness for our supported causes.
What is Identity Theft Identity theft is a crime whereby criminals impersonate individuals, usually for financial gain. In today’s society, you often need to reveal personal bits of information about yourself, such as social security numbers, a signature, name, address, phone numbers, and even banking and credit card information. If a thief is able to access this personal information, he or she can use it to commit fraud in your name. With this information the thief could do things such as apply for loans or new credit card accounts. They can then request a billing address change and run up your existing credit card without you knowledge. They can also use counterfeit checks and debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, to wipe out your your bank account. Identity theft can also go beyond this type of a monetary impact. Thieves can use your information to obtain a driver’s license or other documentation that would display their photo but your name and information. With these documents thieves could to obtain a job and file fraudulent income tax returns, apply for travel documents, file insurance claims, or even provide your name and mailing address to police and other authorities if involved in other criminal activities.
Using Information on the Internet for Identity Theft The outcome of identity theft is usually the same, regardless of how the thief obtains your information. However, the Internet is providing new ways for people to steal your personal information and to commit fraud. Thieves can accomplish their goal several ways such as using Internet chat rooms and spreading Trojan horses that drop key loggers on your computer to transit any passwords, usernames and credit card numbers you use on your computer back to the thieves. Many online businesses today also store personal information about customers and shopper son their Web sites, and that information used when a person returns to the Web site. This provides another way for your personal information to be accessed. Additionally, e-mail phishing, thieves attempt to gather your personal information. Phishing e-mails falsely claim to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam you into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail will direct you to visit a Web site where you’re asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers — information the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal your information
How to Protect yourself The Federal Trade Commission is one of many organizations that provides valuable facts and information to consumers concerning identity theft, including preventative and resolutions to identity theft concerns. For consumers who believe they are a victim of identity theft, the FTC recommends you take immediate steps to protect yourself such as placing fraud alerts on your credit cards, filing police reports, and filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. It is also important to resolve specific fraudulent usage with organizations responsible for your bank accounts, credit cards, driver’s license, investment funds, debt collectors and others. Almost every worldwide government agency responsible for identity theft issues will tell you the same thing. The first step to fighting identity theft is to minimize the risk. To do this they urge consumers to protect their personal information. Start by asking companies how they use your information, and for online transaction, take a moment to review a Web site’s privacy policy. In offline tranactions don’t provide credit card numbers, financial account numbers, and personal identifying information over the phone unless you know the communication line is secure. Ideally, you should initiate the conversation. For Internet transactions, be sure the Web site offers secure data encryption and other services to protect your personal information. Lastly, there are recommended everyday practices, such as keeping an eye on postal mail to ensure your bills are arriving when they should be, and taking the time to properly dispose of paper documents that may contain credit card numbers and other identifying personal information. The more private and secure you keep your personal identifying information, the less susceptible to identify theft you are.
Reporting Crime
The police and other public services can’t tackle crime and anti-social behaviour alone. If people don’t report crime or come forward as witnesses it can be hard for them to solve cases and bring criminals to justice. You can help play your part by reporting crime and anti-social behaviour when you see it. Reporting crime in an emergency In an emergency you should always call 999. An emergency is when a crime is happening, when someone suspected of a crime is nearby or when someone is injured, threatened or in danger.
Neighbourhood
Get involved with your neighbourhood policing team. Made up of police officers and community support officers (PCSOs), your neighbourhood policing team is there to make your street safer. It holds regular open meetings with residents to discuss what’s being done about crime, and to ensure that new problems are dealt with. You can find out where and when the next meetings will be held and what they are doing in your area by visiting their website.
Special Constable
The Special Constabulary is a force of trained volunteers who work with and support their local police. ‘Specials’, as special constables are known, come from all walks of life - they can be teachers, taxi drivers, accountants and secretaries, or from any other profession. They all volunteer at least four hours a week to their local police force. Their work forms a vital link between the regular (full-time) police and residents. Once they have completed their training, they have the same powers as regular officers and wear a similar uniform.
Get Involved
There are several ways to get involved with local community justice projects. For example, you could: • attend public meetings (such as neighbourhood policing team or Neighbourhood Watch meetings) • become a member of a community justice forum join an advisory group suggest Community Payback projects for offenders to carry out as part of their community sentence
Crime in local communities can make daily life a real struggle for people living in communities across the UK. You can help to keep your community safer by following some of our simple advice. Report if streets, footpaths and subways are not well lit to your local authority If there are any new building developments planned for your area, such as shopping precincts, housing estates and car parks, contact your local authority or the developer to ask about how the building designs are minimising opportunities for criminals Ask what your childrens’ school is doing to prevent vandalism and the risk of arson, e.g. good lighting with metal grills to prevent smashing and using anticlimb paint to stop intruders Does your insurance company offer discounts on home insurance if you are a member of the Neighbourhood Watch? If not, find an insurance company who does Contact your local Crime and Disorder Reduction/ Community Safety Partnership to find out about local crime reduction schemes that you may like to be involved in and what action is being taken to tackle any particular local problems you’re concerned about
If you’re worried about crime in your local area and would like to give up some of your spare time to volunteer, these organisationsand schemes may be of interest: Neighbourhood Watch If you collaborate with a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme, you agree to look out for one another. You can keep watch for anything suspicious in your local area and tell one another or report it to the police. Neighbourhood Watch is a great way to feel more secure in your neighbourhood. Neighbourhood wardens and street wardens Many local councils have neighbourhood warden schemes, where local people walk around and monitor their community looking out for anything suspicious, giving people information and being a visible presence on the street. Youth action groups See young people as part of the solution in tackling crime in the community, not just as part of the problem. They work with young people on issues that interest them and help them develop their own skills and activities. Other volunteering Your local voluntary services council can tell you what opportunities there are for volunteering locally.
Best Wishes.
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