Tips for Staying Safe on Social Networking Sites
(Separate Website)
Guidelines to ensure that you or your child stay safe when using social networking sites.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Online Safety Tips Written By Teens
(Separate Website)
Here are some online safety tips written by teens for teens. This is great information to have before you begin networking online.
By: TeenAngels, a Division of WiredSafety.org
What You Should Know About Webcams, Microphones, and Digital Cameras
(Separate Website)
Read these important tips if you or someone in your household has a webcam, microphone or digital camera. The section "What to Report" lists activities you should report to authorities.
By: CyberTipline and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
I-Safe Chat Room
(Separate Website)
Teens can come here to chat with other teens about Internet safety.
By: iSafe.org
X-BLOCK
(Separate Website)
This website is dedicated to students and Internet safety. Teenagers can use it to chat, learn more about online safety, and sign up to teach safety lessons to parents or other students.
By: iSafe.org
Browse The Computer Terms, Acronyms & Emoticons Subtopic
(Separate Website)
Do you know what "LOL!" or ":-r" means? If your child has been typing letters, numbers and symbols online in ways you can't understand, these resources might help you.
**Please note that after you click on the link you will have to put in your zipcode again**
By: Various
Find and Print an Internet Safety Pledge for Your Family
(Separate Website)
Set clear guidelines to help your child or teen stay safe online. These documents include age-appropriate sets of rules about safe Internet use that you can print out, discuss with your family, and implement.
By: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, NetSmartz.org
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
A Guide to Keeping Your Kids Safe Online (for Teens and Parents)
(Separate Website)
Useful guidelines for teenagers and their parents to remember when it comes to Facebook, MySpace, and other similar websites.
By: WiredSafety.org
Short Video: Online Grooming
(Separate Website)
Has your child received an expensive gift in the mail, like a webcam, a cell phone with a camera in it, or a trip? These gifts and devices are often for the purpose of encouraging teens to take, produce, and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves. Watch this important video to learn how online predators manipulate and "groom" children and how to protect your child from victimization.
By: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and NetSmartz.org
List of Social Networking Websites
(Separate Website)
Learn more about the social networking websites that your teens may be using. Reminder: this link is provided for informational purposes only and will take you off the LawHelp.org/NY website. This is not an endorsement of any of the websites mentioned.
By: Wikipedia.com
Making Safer Online Choices
(Separate Website)
For kids and teens: watch this video and learn important online safety information about social networking and blogging.
By: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and NetSmartz.org
A Guide to Legal Issues Bloggers May Encounter
(Separate Website)
Blog freely and understand your rights. Includes a "Student Bloggers' Legal FAQ," which addresses concerns about censorship in public vs. private schools.
By: Electronic Frontier Foundation
Social Networking Sites & Blogs
(Separate Website)
Whether you're a teenager or a parent, find out more about blogs and social networking sites here. Includes helpful online safety tips from New York Criminal Justice Services.
By: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Teens: Test Your Blog Smarts! Take the NetSmartz Blog Beware Quiz
(Separate Website)
Take this quiz to find out what sort of information is unsafe to post in your blog -- you might be surprised!
By: NetSmartz.org
MySpace, Facebook and the Middle School Child
(Separate Website)
Here are some safety rules you might want to discuss with your middle-school aged teen if he or she has been posting information online through MySpace, Facebook or another social networking site.
By: CyberAngels.org
Browse The Online Bullying Subtopic
(Separate Website)
Online bullying, sometimes called cyber bullying, is the misuse of email systems or the Internet for harassing people. See these resources for more information.
*Please note that after you click on the link you will have to put in your zipcode again*
By: Various
Browse The Harassment & Stalking Subtopic
(Separate Website)
Online harassment and online stalking (sometimes called cyber harassment and cyber stalking) may occur in chat rooms, email or via another Internet communication method.
*Please note that after you click on the link you will have to put in your zipcode again**
By: Various
Video-Networking Information Sheet
(Separate Website)
This resource includes basic info about YouTube and other video-networking technologies, including the differences between video-networking and video-sharing, plus some important information for parents.
By: WiredSafety.org
Online Gaming Risks
(Separate Website)
Online gaming has become very popular, among teens and adults. Learn about possible security risks to your computer, as well as to the computers of those with whom you interact while playing online games.
By: United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT)
Browse The Online Dating Resources
(Separate Website)
These resources include tips to stay safe when you communicate online with someone new.
**Please note that after you click on the link you will have to put in the zipcode again**
By: Various
Cyberdating: Having Fun and Staying Safe
(Separate Website)
Important safety advice for adults who are interested in online dating.
By: WiredSafety.org
Internet Dating Schemes
(Separate Website)
Scammers often use online dating services to lie about their identities and pretend they love their victims, so they can trick people into sending them money. For example, click here to learn more about online dating scams, so you'll know when you see one.
By: U.S. Department of State
Internet Terms
(Separate Website)
An index of computer basics, useful for beginners. Type your term in the box and hit "Go" for the definition.
By: TechTerms.com
Online Lingo and Chat Abbreviations List
(Separate Website)
A long glossary of online abbreviations that kids sometimes use while instant messaging (IM'ing).
By: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Internet Lingo Dictionary & Emoticons Guide
(Separate Website)
This very thorough guide helps parents and teens decode common acronyms, abbreviated text, and emoticons used in chat rooms, instant messages, text messages, and blogs.
By: State of Idaho: Office of the Attorney General
Common Internet Abbreviations
(Separate Website)
Read this list of acronyms commonly used in chat rooms and instant messages, with English and Spanish translations.
By: Centro de Documentación de Pegasus Mail
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Emails Luring You to Disclose Personal Information
10 Things You can do to Avoid Fraud
(Separate Website)
A guide to avoiding internet scams
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Browse The Phishing & Pharming Subtopic
(Separate Website)
It has a company logo that looks familiar and it appears to be real, but it's not! Don't get scammed by a fraudulent or "phishing" email.
**Please note that when you click on the link you will have to put in your zipcode again**
By: Various
Recognize and Report the Ponzi Scam
(Separate Website)
The "ponzi" or "pyramid" scheme is an investment scam in which investors are promised abnormally high profits on their investments. Learn more about this scam and how to report it.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
They Might Be Trying To Scam You If ...
(Separate Website)
Romances that start online sometimes involve a scammer who gradually asks an innocent victim to "reship" packages or wire money somewhere, as part of a larger online scam. This website, created and run by a joint federal law enforcement and industry task force, lists common things that scammers say and do to trap victims into participating in fraudulent, and sometimes dangerous, activities.
By: Lookstoogoodtobetrue.com
Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud: How It Works
(Separate Website)
The Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud (AFF) or "419 scheme" is an elaborate scam being used to steal money from anyone with an email account. This thorough brochure includes a description of the scam and sample letters to help you identify fraud.
By: U.S. Department of State
Avoid Nigerian Money Offers
(Separate Website)
Learn more about how Nigerian money offers work.
By: National Fraud Information Center
Recognize and Report a Nigerian "419" Advance Fee Email Scam
(Separate Website)
Learn what a fraudulent Nigerian 419 scam email looks like and how to report it if one arrives in your inbox.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Foreign Lotteries Via Email Hoaxes
(Separate Website)
Avoid common foreign lottery scams that may show up in your inbox.
By: Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York
Recognize and Report Online Lottery Scams
(Separate Website)
Find out how to spot and report an online lottery scam.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Spanish Lottery Scam
(Separate Website)
How to recognize a Spanish lottery scam.
By: U.S. Department of State
Recognize Legitimate Sweepstakes Offers
(Separate Website)
Identify the differences between a real sweepstakes and a scam.
By: U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Tips to Prevent Escrow Services Fraud
(Separate Website)
Learn how to recognize and prevent being a victim of escrow services fraud.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Recognize and Report Employment and Business Opportunities Fraud
(Separate Website)
Beware of an unsolicited job offer you receive via email because it could be a scam. Read more about online employment scams and other "money-making" opportunities here, and report an incident if you believe you are a victim.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Tips to Make Sure Your Brokers and Investment Advisors are Legitimate
(Separate Website)
Advice on how to check the legitimacy of brokers and investment advisors.
By: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
International Financial Scams Brochure
(Separate Website)
Learn more about international financial scams, many of which begin with a fraudulent email.
By: U.S. Department of State
Work-at-Home Scams
(Separate Website)
Basic information on work-at-home scams and tips for how to recognize them.
By: U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Don't Be a Victim of a Work-at-Home Scam
(Separate Website)
This site contains print-friendly fact sheets about common work-at-home scams. Many of the fact sheets are available in both Spanish and English.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Recognize and Report the Reshipping Scam
(Separate Website)
The "reshipping" scheme requires individuals in the United States, who sometimes are co-conspirators and other times are unwitting accomplices, to receive packages at their home and then repackage the merchandise for shipment, usually abroad. Read more information from the Internet Crime Complaint Center to learn how to avoid and report this scheme.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Report a Third Party Receiver of Funds Scam
(Separate Website)
Have you been offered a "work-at-home" opportunity to act as a third party receiver of funds for products you never bought? Learn more about the third part receiver of funds scam and click on the link at the bottom of this resource to report it if you've fallen victim to this scam.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Overview of Fictitious Debt Elimination Schemes
(Separate Website)
This is a helpful guide to debt elimination schemes. Learn about the false information and documents that scam artists will use to lure their victims, and find out who you should contact to report these scams.
By: National Bank Fraud Resource Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Report a Debt Elimination Scam
(Separate Website)
Click here to read a brief description of debt elimination scams, and to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center if you think you've been victimized.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Recognize and Report Spam
(Separate Website)
Unwanted bulk email or "spam" is often used by criminals to commit traditional white collar crimes including financial institution fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft, among others. Learn how to recognize it and report it here.
By: Internet Crime Complaint Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Spot 10 Spam Scams
(Separate Website)
This guide will prepare you to recognize ten of the most common email scams, so you won't fall into a trap.
By: OnGuard Online
Where To Forward Fraudulent Emails
Follow the link in this resource to forward and report any fraudulent emails you have received to the Federal Trade Commission. Then, delete the emails from your inbox.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Tips to Limit Spam
(Separate Website)
Quick tips from the New York Attorney General for limiting the number of spam emails you receive.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Understanding Spam
(Separate Website)
Learn more about what spam really is and what steps will help keep you safe from potential viruses and other threats.
By: WiredSafety.org
Learn More About Spam and Your Rights Against Deceptive Commercial Email
(Separate Website)
This FTC website contains a great deal of information on recent law enforcement actions and tips to help reduce the amount of spam you receive in your inbox.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How to Stop Unwanted Emails
(Separate Website)
Learn how to receive fewer spam emails, recognize the fraudulent emails you do receive, and report unwanted spam to the FTC.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Cut Down on Unsolicited Commercial Email (SPAM), Contact the Email Preference Service (eMPS)
(Separate Website)
You have the right to remove your email address from certain national marketing lists. This organization's "Email Preference Service" (eMPS) makes it easy. From this link, just click on "Register for eMPS" and enter your information. Registration is free for consumers, and is effective for five years, after which time you must register again.
By: Direct Marketing Association (DMAchoice.org)
How and Where to Report Different Types of Unsolicited Email or Spam
(Separate Website)
Information on how to report fraudulent emails to the government. Forward investment-related spam e-mails to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at enforcement@sec.gov
By: U.S. Department of Justice
IRS Warns Taxpayers of IRS Email Scams and Fake IRS Web Sites
(Separate Website)
Received an email that looks like it comes from the IRS? It could be a scam. Learn how to identify and report IRS email scams and fake IRS Web sites.
By: Internal Revenue Service
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
New York State Office of Homeland Security and Consumer Protection Board Warn Against Fraudulent E-Mail Scams Seeking Personal Information
(Separate Website)
Have you received an email that appears to be from the New York State Office of Homeland Security that says you've been chosen to receive funds in exchange for your personal information? Homeland Security (OHS) and the NY State Consumer Protection board warn consumers of this serious scam and remind you that they will never send you an email request for your personal information.
By: New York State Office of Homeland Security (OHS) and New York State Consumer Protection Board
Don't Open Bogus Email that Claims to Come From the FTC
(Separate Website)
An email that looks like it's from the FTC's "Fraud Department" concerning a "complaint" in your name may be a fraudulent email. It may even include links and an attachment that download a virus, so it's very important for the public to know what to do if they receive an email like this. Read more here.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Immigration Email Scam: Visa Lottery/DV Lottery/Diversity Lottery
(Separate Website)
Did you receive an email appearing to be from the State Department that states you have "won" the visa lottery? Beware, this is a scam and a criminal's attempt to steal your money. See an example and learn more here.
By: American Immigration Lawyers Association
Warning: That Email May Not Really Be From The Social Security Administration
(Separate Website)
If you receive an email message that looks like an official SSA request, you should know about this recent scam. Authorities have discovered that some criminals have used this method to convince people to provide personal information, such as a Social Security Number. Click here to learn how to identify an email like this and for information about how to report the scam.
By: Social Security Administration (SSA)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Fraudulent E-mails Purportedly from U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services
(Separate Website)
What to do if you've received a fraudulent letter from the U.S. House of Representatives.
By: Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of National Banks
Browse The Online Safety for Seniors Resources
(Separate Website)
See this section for information about email scams directed at seniors and guides to help seniors prevent online fraud and crimes.
**Please note that after you click on the link you will have to put in your zipcode again**
By: Various
Tips for Avoiding Charity Email Scams
(Separate Website)
It's important to know that there are email scams taking advantage of victims of natural disasters, charitable organizations and of people, like you, who may be willing to donate money. Read these tips to make sure your money is going to the right place and not in a criminal's pocket.
By: National Consumers League's Internet Fraud Watch
What You Need to Know About Chain Emails & Letters
(Separate Website)
Basic information about chain letters: avoid getting tricked into sending your money!
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Tips for Staying Safe on Social Networking Sites
(Separate Website)
Guidelines to ensure that you or your child stay safe when using social networking sites.
By: New York State Attorney General's Office
Find and Print an Internet Safety Pledge for Your Family
(Separate Website)
Set clear guidelines to help your child or teen stay safe online. These documents include age-appropriate sets of rules about safe Internet use that you can print out, discuss with your family, and implement.
By: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, NetSmartz.org
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
An Interactive Contract for Parents and Kids
(Separate Website)
Written by an online safety expert, see this example of an Internet Safety Contract that you can sign with your kids to help protect them online. Includes explanations, a list of kid-friendly websites and other helpful information for parents.
By: WiredKids.org
Rules for Internet Safety
(Separate Website)
Nobody likes rules, but following this advice about using the Internet can help you stay safe while you're online.
By: Prevent Child Abuse New York
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