We’ve talked quite a bit about identity theft here on the AMW Safety Center, but it’s important to keep on guard because thieves are always working at coming up with new and innovative ways to separate you from your money. One of the latest types of these crimes is Synthetic Identity Theft, where criminals take individual elements–a name, a birthdate, a social security number, each from a different person–in order to create a synthetic identity. This type of ID theft can sometimes be more difficult to trace because it may take a while for any one of those individuals to take notice.

There is another rising type of ID theft that could be  dangerous to your health, and could even kill you. Medical Identity Theft occurs when your personal information is used to to obtain prescription drugs from a pharmacy or hospital. This type of ID theft is very dangerous, because in an accident or emergency station, a medic will look at your medical history. If a criminal has been prescribed a drug you are allergic to–in your name–you could be administered that drug with fatal results.

The Identity Theft Action Council of Nebraska offers up some important measures that you should take if you find you are a victim of these crimes, or any other type of ID theft:

• Report the crime to the police. It is important to have a police report when following up on any criminal action.
• Always check your credit reports to see how much damage has been done to your accounts.
• Place a fraud alert on your accounts. Fraud alerts, or security freezes, are one of the few tools consumers have available that can lock down your credit report so that no one can pull or view any of your information without authorization. This will prevent any further accounts from being opened in your name.

For more information, check out the FTC’s materials on ID Theft, or the nonprofit ID Theft Resource Center.

With as much time as we all spend online, the frustration of a computer slowed down by spyware or a virus is probably very familiar. These sinister and invasive applications can range from simply annoying you with advertising, to being completely malicious–they could invade your system, destroy your files, or transmit your personal information to identity thieves.

But some of the latest viruses finding victims today are placing horrendous photos and videos onto your computer. These viruses are able to turn you into an unwitting child pornographer. So instead of malicious software used to target your identity, it’s being used to destroy your reputation. Pedophiles are able to utilize your virus infected computer to store their files without getting caught themselves. The viruses are designed to make it look like the traffic is coming from your computer, potentially landing you in serious trouble.

These creeps are sinking to new lows, and now involving even more innocent victims. More than ever, it’s important to keep your anti-virus software up to date. But you should also be sure to practice safe websurfing as well. As always, it’s important to only visit and download from trusted websites, avoid unfamiliar attachments, and be careful what personal information you are entering in online.

The AMW Safety Center has plenty of information about what dangers exist while surfing online, and what active steps to take that can help keep you and your family safe.

For many of us, gang violence seems like something that happens in other neighborhoods, in movies or on TV. But it’s important to recognize how pervasive it really is, and how susceptible our kids and teens could be to the dangers. Gang violence is not just limited to urban centers, to poverty or any particular ethnic group or race.  The National Center for Victims of Crime reminds us that gangs can reach out to rural and suburban communities, no matter the socio-economic or cultural make up.

Such violence brought tragedy to three California families in May of 2009. Police say that a group of thugs walked up behind unsuspecting 25 year-old C.J. Davis as he was on his way to the market, and opened fire on him with an assault rifle. While speeding away from the scene and with police in hot pursuit, the Cadillac carrying the gang members slammed into another car at an intersection, killing the other driver instantly. The impact sent the vehicles spinning out of control, striking and killing a pedestrian as well. While three of the gang members have since been apprehended, a fourth, Rafael Campbell is still at large.

This senseless tragedy set in motion by a violent act is an example of how far reaching the consequences can be to a community, in this case leaving three families devastated. For parents, it’s important that you are aware not only of what is going on in your neighborhood, but also how it could be affecting your kids.

The AMW Safety Center has a lot of information for parents and teens to help recognize some of these dangers as they exist in our schools and community, and how to take an active role to try fighting back.

Getting Involved Against Gangs In Your Community

 How Can I Help My Friends Stay Away From Gangs?

Start Celebrating Safe Communities Today

Create An Effective And Successful Neighborhood Watch

No matter your age, Halloween can be a fun time for the whole family. But as you prepare your costumes and final decorations for the big celebration, make sure you keep safety on your mind.

The AMW Safety Center has plenty of tips for you and your family to keep in mind as you hit the streets this weekend. Parents and guardians should be sure to closely supervise young children, and make sure your older kids are prepared with the street smarts they need to be out in the neighborhood at night.

Halloween is also a time for a significant rise in injuries, so be sure to remind your kids that it’s not all fun and games. Check out some of the information and resources below that we’ve prepared to help make your Halloween safe and fun for the whole family. (more…)

The biggest misconception regarding victimization is that a crime victim brings it upon themselves.  There are many types of crimes that could happen to anyone, but it’s important to recognize that it isn’t your fault.

Whether sexual assault, robbery, vandalism, or other crimes, everyone deserves help in getting through the experience. The National Center for Victims of Crime has a lot of information and resources to help you regain control, and help you recover a sense of balance in your life after a crime.

For 25 years, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has worked tirelessly to protect our kids. Whether reuniting families and recovering missing children, or tracking down those who would threaten their safety, NCMEC has been a champion of families all over the country. The AMW Safety Center gives you an inside look at how NCMEC works; showing you some of the high tech tools and the strategic partnerships they have forged with top government agencies to help keep our children safe.

In our fast paced society, our cellphones have become such an important tool for keeping up with contacts while on the go. Whether communicating a change in plans, getting in touch with work or our kids, or during the course of running errands, our cell phones help to keep us moving along without missing a beat.

Unfortunately, for too many people, using a phones on the go means using it while in the car. More and more of us are talking, or even worse, texting while driving, leading to an increase in dangerous highway accidents.

According to American Automobile Association (AAA) research, 1 in 5 drivers in the U.S. admitted to texting while driving at least once in the prior 30 days. Using a phone while driving creates a dangerous distraction to the driver, putting themselves, their passengers, and everyone else on the road around them at risk of accident. (more…)

Scams come in many different shapes — identity theft, credit repair, smishing, phone crammers, online dating — but they all have the same goal: taking advantage of you. If you are targetted by a scammer, you might be taken for cash, or worse, you could be the victim of identity theft. Someone could get control of your personal information and if you are unaware, they could continue spending money in your name, open new accounts, ruin your credit and ruin your life.

Over 9 million Americans fall victim to some form of identity theft each year, so it’s important to make sure you are taking the proper precautions to be sure you are protecting yourself.

The AMW Safety Center is full of information to help you identify all types of scams. And if you happen to find yourself the victim of a scam, we have a lot of tips for what to do to help you regain control. (more…)

On a seemingly normal day, mother Sandra Lopez had left her 3 children in the care of a family friend, Berny Figueroa. Sandra thought her to be trustworthy, but was unaware of Figueroa’s violent tendencies, which unfortunately turned deadly. A nightmare for any parent, Sandra is now forced to cope with the murder of her daughter, while Berny Figueroa remains at large.

Our children are our most precious resource, so it can be tough to find someone you trust to look after your kids when you can’t be around. When hiring a babysitter, you want to be sure you are leaving your kid in good hands. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most important criteria from Kids Health and the Red Cross that you should consider both in choosing your babysitter, and in making sure they’re prepared for an emergency while looking after your kids. (more…)

Now that summer vacation is coming to a close, parents everywhere are getting their kids ready to go back to school. As you prepare your kids with school supplies and new gear, you also want to make sure they are equipped with some important health and safety tips to help them stay on guard throughout the school year.

The AMW Safety Center features some great tips for both kids and parents to help build awareness and street smarts. As we’ve stated a number of times, prevention is your greatest defense against trouble. You won’t always be around to keep your kids safe, so taking a moment to go over some of this information with your children ahead of time can go a long way towards making sure your they make the right choices when they are faced with a split second decision down the line. (more…)