Dot-Com or Dot-Con?
About Internet Business Opportunity Scams
There are many Internet business opportunities that exploit the novelty of the Web as a lure. If you nibble, they'll further bait you with promises of freedom, esteem, high income and the good life. For a fee, they'll set you up with a company-sponsored, duplicate Website, along with products or services to sell. But many will also offer you incentives to recruit others to pay the fee, which is really what these so-called opportunities are all about. They are among what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleverly calls Dot Cons.
The real business of these types of dot-cons is not wholesaling products or services. It's selling the concept of the scheme itself, and duping you into reselling it for them. But by law in most U.S. states, one can't profit from recruiting, with nothing changing hands but fees and commissions for the scheme itself. That's illegal pyramiding. To get around it, these dot-cons sell tangible, "distributorship" Websites on which to seemingly resell their products or services. But a closer look reveals that, what's really for resale, is the distributorship itself over and over again.
It's all just a guise for a relatively new twist on an old scheme called multilevel marketing (MLM) or network marketing. One of the latest twists is exact method marketing (EMM). It's touted as a revolutionary idea that eliminates the flaws in MLM. But it's little more than refurbished hype for the same ol' scheme. They all use some form of pyramiding to resell the scheme itself, some by exploiting loopholes in the law to recruit through a backdoor, others by breaking the law until they're busted. Regardless, they are often formulas for failure, except for the people who created them. They're at the very top of the pyramid, the only place to be―if you're going to run a scheme, that is.
Even if products and services are more than just a hook to resell the scheme, often the dot-cons are not really wholesalers as they might claim. They are extra middlemen between wholesale distributors and you, and you can bet they're taking an extra cut too. Another dot-con trick of the trade, is to "borrow" the reputations of well-known merchants, financial institutions and such, by offering referral (affiliate) deals with them. But affiliate deals are all over the Web, and just about anybody with a Web site can sign up for free. Again, the dot-cons are often unnecessary middlemen taking an extra cut. As a result of these tricks, you'll likely have to gouge absurd retail prices from your customers to earn any margin at all, share your meager referral commissions with unnecessary middlemen, or both.
Web-savvy shoppers would likely be hesitant to submit their credit card numbers to reputation-unknown shopping sites, especially those that also hype get-rich-quick schemes. Additionally, you'll be competing with hundreds to thousands of others who paid the fee too, and are attempting to sell the exact same products or services and the scheme itself, on identical, company-sponsored Websites. It sounds good on the surface when dot-con hype promises "free training" in marketing and sales techniques. But the fact of the matter is, those with duplicate Websites are your direct competitors, and they too are learning the same techniques.
Internet business opportunities also tend to hype the ease of online marketing and popularity of shopping on the Web (e-commerce). Granted, online marketing has a broader reach than most traditional methods. It's also true that e-commerce is a growing, multi-billion dollar industry. But that very reach and popularity makes the Web a highly-competitive place to do business, and it gets more so everyday. Many failed dot-coms will attest to that. Despite that some had millions in venture capital to finance far more marketing resources than home-based Internet businesses typically can, they failed.
Among the biggest dot-con hypes is getting "free advertising" in "hundreds" of search engines. When starting up a small businesses, you likely won't have much of an advertising budget. So, free advertising might sound good, and you can bet the dot-cons know it does. Because search engines are the "Yellow Pages" of the Web, it's true that they are the main source of Website traffic. But the reality is, there are only a handful that deliver significant traffic, such as Yahoo, Excite and Google. The rest of the "hundreds" are relatively inconsequential for marketing.To get a free listing of significance in the popular handful takes search-engine
savvy―a whole 'nother ballgame―and lots of hard work, such as keyword and meta tag optimization. If you don't know what a keyword or meta tag is when you pay the fee for an Internet business opportunity, you're already in trouble.
Again, if the dot-cons promise to teach you the techniques, remember that they're also teaching your direct competitors. Besides, no matter how much training a seller of duplicate Websites promises, many of the popular search engines won't list identical sites or those that are even close. Search engines call them mirror sites, and consider multiple submissions of same to be redundant. Some won't list get-rich-quick schemes either, for obvious reasons.
"Build it and they will come" doesn't work nearly as well as the dot-cons would love for you to believe, so they conveniently fail to mention these and other inherent flaws. Natch, it's to their advantage to make it sound far easier than it is. They'll say anything to get your fee, their main source of income.
The Bottom Line of Internet Business Opportunity
Often, after the people who buy into these dot-cons have tapped out their friends, relatives, neighbors, church comembers and everybody else they know, they soon realize that the so-called Internet business opportunity was not the piece of cake the hype made it out to be. According to an article about MLMs by Small Business Advisor, Dr. Judith Kautz, "There are countless stories of folks who have destroyed their social foundation through pressuring friends and family to buy their products."
After the product or service phase fails, the only way left for them to recoup their investments or make what little money they can, is to dupe others into paying the fee, the same as they were duped. But they soon realize that's not easy either, as it'll take a lot of dishonest, "network marketing" legwork. Those with a conscience usually just give up at this point, eat their losses and learn a lesson the hard way.
But there are some who still don't get it, even after they've ticked off everybody they know. Sadly, scam artists turn otherwise ethical people into scam artists too, whether or not the otherwise-ethical realize it. Dr. Kautz indicates that they are so brainwashed by the hype, it becomes a cultlike obsession. She says, "Members mouth company mottos with no conscious awareness of how ludicrous the claims may be."
You've probably seen their "Wonderful Opportunity" and similarly-titled posts in forums that allow it. (The Job Searching: Technical Forum doesn't.) Besides their typical ambiguous hype about all the "wonderfulness" with no mention of the inherent flaws and risks, the URLs they provide are one of the clues that they're duped "cultists" attempting to dupe others into an Internet business opportunity scam. The URLs terminate in tags that credit them with a chunk of your fee, should you bite the bait. For example,
http://www.getduped.com/?id=maryq123
Where ?id=maryq123 is the tag. They likely also get a cut of your future sales, as your "sponsors." In other words, you'll help them move up the "pyramid" at your expense.
Others are just unoriginal and lazy con artists, looking for an easy ride at your expense. They could care less about selling products or services and have joined several, dupe-others-in Internet business opportunities. They'll say just about anything to get their cut of your fee. Some will even act hurt or angry if you question their motives. But con artists really don't give a hoot what you think about them. It's all just part of their bait-and-hook campaign.
How to Avoid Internet Business Opportunity Scams
This is not intended to discourage you from starting up a home-based Internet business, but rather just to give you a heads up about the too-good-to-be-true, Internet business opportunity scams. There are legit small businesses that have successfully carved out or exploited Internet niches that are not yet saturated, one of the real "secrets" to success. But, as does just about any other entrepreneurial endeavor, it takes hard work, knowledge, dedication, cash flow and resources. (An understanding significant other helps, too.) There are few quick and easy ways to make money on the Internet, at least not honestly.
Granted, there are people who've had success with Internet business opportunity scams, if duping others in defines success. But for every so-called success, there are hundreds of people who aren't, because the hype misled them into believing that it was far easier than it really is. Don't be fooled by
• Testimonials
• Guarantees
• Documented "proof"
• Huge income potentials
And more hype, like "Get out of bed when you want to!!!" and "Work when you want!!!" Who among your customers will understand that you didn't ship their orders on time, because you chose to sleep in? How many people earn huge incomes by being lazy? To succeed at a dot-con, you must be selling, scheming and conniving all of the time. In fact, dot-con or not, Internet businesses take orders 24/7, which is pretty much the whole idea. So, you likely won't be sleeping in much or taking many days off, until you can afford a staff to take over. But how many years will that take, even for a legit Internet business?
It's all just bait conceived by con artists, who care only about parting you from your money. Ethics don't come into it. (For more about con-artist tricks, click Work-at-Home Job Scams in the sidebar.) The predators who run Internet business opportunity scams count on a new sucker being born every minute, and thrive on the naive, wishful and desperate. Stay-at-home moms, the elderly, and physically-challenged people who need money most are among their prime prey.
Showing posts with label crime prevention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime prevention. Show all posts
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
BOMB PREVENTION TIPS
BOMB PREVENTION TIPS
ALWAYS BE CONSTANTLY PREPARED!
There is no excuse for not taking every step necessary to meet a bomb threat.
BOMB. A device capable of producing damage to material and injury or death to people when detonated or ignited. Bombs are classified as explosive which causes damage by fragmentation, heat and blast wave; and incendiary which generates fire-producing heat without a substantial explosion when ignited.
BOMBING. A bombing occurs when an explosive bomb detonates or an incendiary bomb ignites.
BOMB THREAT. An information or warning claiming knowledge that a dangerous device, such as a bomb or similar type of explosive, has been or will be placed in a building, aircraft or other facilities.
BOMBING INCIDENT. Any occurrence involving the detonation/ignition of a bomb, the discovery of a bomb, or the execution of a bomb threat.
WHY PREPARE AGAINST BOMB INCIDENTS?
The Philippine National Police encourages every citizen and every establishment to be constantly prepared against bomb threats and bombing incidents. Through preparation, you can reduce the accessibility of your building and identify those areas that can be "hardened" against the potential bomber. Proper planning can also reduce the threat of panic and decrease the potential for injury and property damage.
Be prepared! There is no excuse for not taking every step necessary to meet the threat.
HOW TO PREPARE. In preparing to cope with a bomb incident, it is necessary to develop two separate plans: a security plan and a bomb incident plan.
•Security provides for the protection of property, personnel, facilities, and material against unauthorized entry, trespass, damage, sabotage, or other illegal or criminal acts. The security plan deals with prevention and control of access to the building.
•The bomb incident plan provides detailed procedures to be implemented when a bomb is found or threatened.
•In planning, a command center must be designated to be located in a focal point of telephone or radio communications. Obtain an updated blueprint of floor plan of your building and maintain it in the command center.
•Contact the police department, fire department, or local government agencies for any assistance in developing your security or bomb incident plans.
•Training is essential to deal properly with a bomb threat incident. Instruct all personnel, especially those at the telephone switchboard, on what to do if a bomb threat is received.
RESPONDING TO BOMB THREATS. Each threat received through any means of communications should be treated as real and must be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities.
Telephone Bomb Threats. The receiving party must remain calm and courteous. Try to obtain as much information as possible from the caller. Take note of the following procedures:
1. Get the identity of the caller.
2. Take note of the following characteristics: male or female voice; young, middle-age or old sounding voice; accent of voice; speech impediments or peculiar voice characteristics; any background noise; does the voice sound familiar.
3. The exact words of the person placing the call.
4. Show no emotion on the phone.
5. Know the exact location of the bomb.
6. Ask for a description of the bomb/composition of the explosive.
7. Repeat the message to the caller whenever possible and ask for confirmation.
8. The receiving party should remain calm and courteous. He should listen carefully and write down accurately the information the caller provides.
9. If possible, refer the caller to a supervisor or a person in authority to extract more information.
10.Apply delaying tactics and engage the caller in prolonged conversation.
11. Take note of the exact time the suspect hung up.
12.The person receiving the bomb threat should attempt to ask the caller certain questions: When is the bomb going to explode?/ Where is the bomb right now? What type of bomb is it?/ What does the bomb look like?/ What will cause it to explode?/ Why did you place the bomb?
13.Remember that the caller may not answer your questions, but any additional information that he may relate will be helpful.
14.It may be advisable to inform the caller that the building is occupied and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to many innocent people.
15.Once the telephone threat is received, notify your local police at once.
Handwritten or Typed Notes.
Documents and other materials received should be carefully handled to preserve marks, fingerprints, etc. for examination by competent authorities. These items should be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities for analysis and evaluation. Written messages should never be ignored.
Person-to-Person or Direct Threat
1. Notify your security supervisor immediately.
2. Keep the person making the threat or indicating knowledge of a threat under surveillance until relieved by your supervisor.
3. Take note of the age, height, weight, sex, color of eyes/hair/skin, clothing, and unusual characteristics such as lameness, twitching or any peculiarities of the person under surveillance. Observe other personal behavior, if any.
4. If the person leaves the scene, take note of the make, model, color, plate number and markings of the vehicle used.
PHYSICAL SEARCH OF BUILDINGS.
The most effective and fastest search of a building can be made by the normal occupants of that building. bombs can be made by the normal occupants of that building. Bombs can be packaged in as many different ways as the maker's imagination will allow. Since the object of the search can vary in size and shape, it is a fundamental rule that search must be made by persons who are familiar with the area in order to notice a strange or foreign object.
In some instances, the detonation or ignition of any explosive or incendiary might depend on a change in environment, e.g. temperature variations or the presence of an electric current. Therefore, the personnel assigned to conduct the search should be cautioned not to cause, or at least minimize any change in the environment. do not go into a dark room and turn on the lights or change the setting of the thermostats in the room.
SECURITY MEASURES IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS
1. Strictly implement the inspection procedures of all bags, knapsacks, boxes, merchandise, etc., that will enter your store/premises.
2. Suspicious looking package, paper bags, etc. left alone should be cautiously scrutinized as possible bomb(s).
3. When suspected bombs are noted, advice security personnel/employees to immediately contact the proper authorities.
4. Be observant of people roaming around your area doing nothing. Vendors with tricycles/knapsacks/bags should be driven out, as they may be used as couriers of bombs.
5. Advice your security to always observe people leaving behind bags/packages/boxes in the garbage cans/bins in your premises.
6. Be observant of cars/motorcycle riding individuals who are suspiciously observing constantly your establishment(s).
7. Be cautious in opening envelopes and packages sent to you by unknown individual or package with no return addresses.
8. The greatest safeguard against the effects of bomb threats is to prevent entry of unauthorized persons into certain areas, whenever possible.
9. Restricted entry and positive identification of staff and visitors can be significant factors in assessing the seriousness of any given threat.
ALWAYS BE CONSTANTLY PREPARED!
There is no excuse for not taking every step necessary to meet a bomb threat.
BOMB. A device capable of producing damage to material and injury or death to people when detonated or ignited. Bombs are classified as explosive which causes damage by fragmentation, heat and blast wave; and incendiary which generates fire-producing heat without a substantial explosion when ignited.
BOMBING. A bombing occurs when an explosive bomb detonates or an incendiary bomb ignites.
BOMB THREAT. An information or warning claiming knowledge that a dangerous device, such as a bomb or similar type of explosive, has been or will be placed in a building, aircraft or other facilities.
BOMBING INCIDENT. Any occurrence involving the detonation/ignition of a bomb, the discovery of a bomb, or the execution of a bomb threat.
WHY PREPARE AGAINST BOMB INCIDENTS?
The Philippine National Police encourages every citizen and every establishment to be constantly prepared against bomb threats and bombing incidents. Through preparation, you can reduce the accessibility of your building and identify those areas that can be "hardened" against the potential bomber. Proper planning can also reduce the threat of panic and decrease the potential for injury and property damage.
Be prepared! There is no excuse for not taking every step necessary to meet the threat.
HOW TO PREPARE. In preparing to cope with a bomb incident, it is necessary to develop two separate plans: a security plan and a bomb incident plan.
•Security provides for the protection of property, personnel, facilities, and material against unauthorized entry, trespass, damage, sabotage, or other illegal or criminal acts. The security plan deals with prevention and control of access to the building.
•The bomb incident plan provides detailed procedures to be implemented when a bomb is found or threatened.
•In planning, a command center must be designated to be located in a focal point of telephone or radio communications. Obtain an updated blueprint of floor plan of your building and maintain it in the command center.
•Contact the police department, fire department, or local government agencies for any assistance in developing your security or bomb incident plans.
•Training is essential to deal properly with a bomb threat incident. Instruct all personnel, especially those at the telephone switchboard, on what to do if a bomb threat is received.
RESPONDING TO BOMB THREATS. Each threat received through any means of communications should be treated as real and must be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities.
Telephone Bomb Threats. The receiving party must remain calm and courteous. Try to obtain as much information as possible from the caller. Take note of the following procedures:
1. Get the identity of the caller.
2. Take note of the following characteristics: male or female voice; young, middle-age or old sounding voice; accent of voice; speech impediments or peculiar voice characteristics; any background noise; does the voice sound familiar.
3. The exact words of the person placing the call.
4. Show no emotion on the phone.
5. Know the exact location of the bomb.
6. Ask for a description of the bomb/composition of the explosive.
7. Repeat the message to the caller whenever possible and ask for confirmation.
8. The receiving party should remain calm and courteous. He should listen carefully and write down accurately the information the caller provides.
9. If possible, refer the caller to a supervisor or a person in authority to extract more information.
10.Apply delaying tactics and engage the caller in prolonged conversation.
11. Take note of the exact time the suspect hung up.
12.The person receiving the bomb threat should attempt to ask the caller certain questions: When is the bomb going to explode?/ Where is the bomb right now? What type of bomb is it?/ What does the bomb look like?/ What will cause it to explode?/ Why did you place the bomb?
13.Remember that the caller may not answer your questions, but any additional information that he may relate will be helpful.
14.It may be advisable to inform the caller that the building is occupied and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to many innocent people.
15.Once the telephone threat is received, notify your local police at once.
Handwritten or Typed Notes.
Documents and other materials received should be carefully handled to preserve marks, fingerprints, etc. for examination by competent authorities. These items should be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities for analysis and evaluation. Written messages should never be ignored.
Person-to-Person or Direct Threat
1. Notify your security supervisor immediately.
2. Keep the person making the threat or indicating knowledge of a threat under surveillance until relieved by your supervisor.
3. Take note of the age, height, weight, sex, color of eyes/hair/skin, clothing, and unusual characteristics such as lameness, twitching or any peculiarities of the person under surveillance. Observe other personal behavior, if any.
4. If the person leaves the scene, take note of the make, model, color, plate number and markings of the vehicle used.
PHYSICAL SEARCH OF BUILDINGS.
The most effective and fastest search of a building can be made by the normal occupants of that building. bombs can be made by the normal occupants of that building. Bombs can be packaged in as many different ways as the maker's imagination will allow. Since the object of the search can vary in size and shape, it is a fundamental rule that search must be made by persons who are familiar with the area in order to notice a strange or foreign object.
In some instances, the detonation or ignition of any explosive or incendiary might depend on a change in environment, e.g. temperature variations or the presence of an electric current. Therefore, the personnel assigned to conduct the search should be cautioned not to cause, or at least minimize any change in the environment. do not go into a dark room and turn on the lights or change the setting of the thermostats in the room.
SECURITY MEASURES IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS
1. Strictly implement the inspection procedures of all bags, knapsacks, boxes, merchandise, etc., that will enter your store/premises.
2. Suspicious looking package, paper bags, etc. left alone should be cautiously scrutinized as possible bomb(s).
3. When suspected bombs are noted, advice security personnel/employees to immediately contact the proper authorities.
4. Be observant of people roaming around your area doing nothing. Vendors with tricycles/knapsacks/bags should be driven out, as they may be used as couriers of bombs.
5. Advice your security to always observe people leaving behind bags/packages/boxes in the garbage cans/bins in your premises.
6. Be observant of cars/motorcycle riding individuals who are suspiciously observing constantly your establishment(s).
7. Be cautious in opening envelopes and packages sent to you by unknown individual or package with no return addresses.
8. The greatest safeguard against the effects of bomb threats is to prevent entry of unauthorized persons into certain areas, whenever possible.
9. Restricted entry and positive identification of staff and visitors can be significant factors in assessing the seriousness of any given threat.
About Drug and Alcohol Addiction
About Addiction
Addictive drugs activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave the drug and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug. The ability of addictive drugs to strongly activate the brain reward mechanisms and their ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems can produce an addiction. Drugs also reduce a person’s level of consciousness, harming their ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.
The Cycle of Addiction
What Is A Drug?
In medical terms, a drug is any substance that when taken into a living organism may modify one or more of its functions. Drugs can provide temporary relief from unhealthy symptoms and/or permanently supply the body with a necessary substance the body can no longer make. Some drugs produce unwanted side affects. Some drugs lead to an unhealthy dependency that has both physiological and behavioral roots.
Why People Use Drugs
No one wants to be a drug addict or alcoholic, but that doesn’t stop people from getting addicted. The most commonly asked question is simply - how? How could my son, daughter, father, sister, or brother become a liar, a thief, someone who cannot be trusted? How could this happen? And why won’t they stop?
The first thing you must understand about addiction, is that alcohol and addictive drugs are basically painkillers. They chemically kill physical or emotional pain and alter the mind’s perception of reality. They make people numb. For drugs to be attractive to a person there must first be some underlying unhappiness, sense of hopelessness, or physical pain that they wish to escape.
Drug Addiction Follows A Cycle Like This:
The life cycle of addiction begins with a problem, discomfort, or some form of emotional or physical pain a person is experiencing. They find this very difficult to deal with.
We start off with an individual who, like most people in our society, is basically good. This person encounters a problem or discomfort that they do not know how to resolve or cannot confront. This could include problems such as difficulty “fitting in” as a child or teenager, anxiety due to peer pressure or work expectations, identity problems or divorce as an adult. It can also include physical discomfort, such as an injury or chronic pain. The person experiencing the discomfort has a real problem and feels their present situation is unendurable, yet sees no good solution to the problem.
Everyone has experienced this in life to a greater or lesser degree. The difference between an addict and the non-addict is that the addict chooses drugs or alcohol as a solution to the unwanted problem or discomfort.
The Addiction Progresses…
Analogous to an adolescent child in his first love affair, the use of drugs or alcohol becomes obsessive. The addicted person is trapped. Whatever problem he was initially trying to solve by using drugs or alcohol fades from memory. At this point, all they can think about is getting and using drugs. They lose the ability to control their usage and disregard the horrible consequences of their actions.
Alcohol And Drug Tolerance
In addition to the mental stress created by their unethical behavior, the addict’s body has also adapted to the presence of the drugs. He will experience an overwhelming obsession with getting and using his drugs, and will do anything to avoid the pain of withdrawing from them. This is when the newly-created addict begins to experience drug cravings. The individual now seeks drugs both for the reward of the “pleasure” they give him, and also to avoid the mental and physical horrors of withdrawal. Ironically, the addict’s ability to get “high” from the alcohol or drug gradually decreases as their body adapts to the presence of foreign chemicals. He must take more and more, not just to get an effect but often just to function at all.
At this point, the addict is stuck in a vicious dwindling spiral. The drugs being abused have changed him both physically and mentally. He has crossed an invisible and intangible line. He is now a drug addict or alcoholic.
Drugs and Problems
A person tries drugs or alcohol. The drug APPEAR to solve his problem. He feels better. Because he now SEEMS better able to deal with life, the drugs become valuable to him.
The person looks at drugs or alcohol as a cure for unwanted feelings. The painkilling effects of drugs or alcohol become a solution to their discomfort. Inadvertently the drug or alcohol now becomes valuable because it helped them feel better. This release is the main reason a person uses drugs or drinks a second or third time. It is just a matter of time before he becomes fully addicted and loses the ability to control his drug usage.
Drug addiction results from excessive or continued use of physiologically habit-forming drugs in an attempt to resolve the underlying symptoms of discomfort or unhappiness.
How Drugs Affect Behavior
The addict will now attempt to withhold the fact of their drug use from friends and family members. They will begin to suffer the effects of their own dishonesty and guilt. They may become withdrawn, difficult to reason with, and possibly develop strange behavior. The more they use drugs and alcohol, the guiltier they will feel, and the more depressed they will become. They will sacrifice their personal integrity, relationships with friends and family, theirs job, savings, and anything else they may possess in an attempt to get more drugs. The drugs are now the most important things in their life. Their relationships and job performance will go drastically downhill.
There is such a thing as a “drug personality”, which is artificially created by drugs. Drugs can change the attitude of a person from his original personality to one secretly harboring hostilities and hatreds he does not permit to show on the surface.
This establishes a link between drugs and increasing difficulties with crime, production and the modern breakdown of social and industrial culture.
The drug personality includes such characteristics as:
•Mood swings.
•Unreliable. Unable to finish projects.
•Unexpressed resentment and secret hatreds.
•Dishonesty. Lies to family, friends, employers.
•Withdraws from those who love him. Isolates self.
•May appear chronically depressed.
•May begin stealing from family and friends.
Drug Metabolites
Drugs and alcohol are broken down in the liver. When a person drinks or uses drugs over a period of time, the body becomes unable to completely eliminate them all. These metabolites, (the substances the body converts the drugs or alcohol into) although removed rapidly from the blood stream, become trapped in the fatty tissues. The problem that needs to be addressed is that these drug residues remain for years.There are various types of tissues that are high in fat content, and these tissues are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored drug metabolites are released into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences a drug re-stimulation (or “flashback”) and drug craving. This is common in the months after an addict quits and can continue to occur for years, or even decades.
The Cycle Of Quitting, Withdrawal, Craving And Relapse.
When the addict initially tries to quit, cells in the brain that have become used to large amounts of these metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts. Even as the withdrawal symptoms subside, the brain “demands” that the addict give it more of the drug. This is called drug craving. Craving is an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds of “reasons” they should begin using drugs or drinking again. He is now trapped in an endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, relapse and fear of withdrawal. Eventually, the brain cells will again become used to having lowered drug metabolites.
However, because deposits of drug or alcohol metabolites release back into the bloodstream from fatty tissues for years, craving and relapse remain a cause for concern. Left unhandled, the presence of metabolites, even in microscopic amounts, cause the brain to react as if the addict had actually taken the drug again, and can set up craving and relapse even after years of sobriety. To prevent relapse due to the above scenario the solution is the Narconon New Life Detoxification procedure.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
Prohibited Drug - Which includes opium and its active components and derivatives, such as heroin and morphine; coca leaf and its derivatives, principally cocaine; alpha and beta eucaine; hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivatives; all preparations made from any of the foregoing; and other drugs and chemical preparations, whether natural or synthetic, with the physiological effects of a narcotic or a hallucinogenic drug; or (As amended by B.P. 179 dated March 2, 1982).
Regulated Drug - Which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital,
phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital, amobarbital and any other drug which contains a salt of a derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer, of amphetamine, such as benzedrine or dexedrine, or any drug which produces a physiological action similar to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound producing similar physiological effects; (As amended by PD No.1683 dated March 14, 1980).
MARIJUANA
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
Marijuana, often called grass, pot, or weed is a crude drug made from Cannabis sativa, a plant that contains a mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Marijuana slows down the user’s mental and psychomotor activities. Users don’t remember what they have learned when they are high. The effects of marijuana can also impair thinking, reading comprehension and verbal and mathematical skills. Marijuana creates other health problems related to: the reproductive system, the heart, the lungs. It has been found that marijuana use may lead to cancer. Long-term regular use of marijuana may lead to psychological dependence. Once started, it may take more of the drug for the user to get the same effect. Young marijuana users are more likely to go on experimenting with other drugs.
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:
1. Faster heartbeat and pulse rate
2. Bloodshot eyes
3. Dry mouth and throat
4. Altered sense of time/disorientation
5. Forgetfulness/inability to think
6. Impaired reflexes, coordination and concentration
“Acute panic anxiety reaction” – extreme fear of losing control
LONG TERM EFFECTS:
1. Chest pain
2. Irregular menstrual cycle
3. Temporary loss of fertility for both sexes
4. Premature babies/low birth weights
5. Cancer
Marijuana “burn-out” (dull, slow moving, inattentive, and unaware of surroundings)
SHABU
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
Shabu is a white odorless crystal or cyrstalline powder with a bitter numbing taste. In the street name for the chemical substance known as Metamphetamine. It is also popularity known as “poor man’s cocaine”. Other slang names are “shabs, ubas, S, siopao, sha and ice”.
ACUTE:
1. Produces anxiety, irritability, irrational behavior, talkativeness and loss of self control.
2. Results in loss of appetite and inability to sleep.
3. Can lead to acute psychotic reactions, violent and destructive
4. behavior and recklessness that may result in accidents.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
Include chest pain, irregularity of heartbeat, hypertension, convulsion and death from cardiac arrest.
PSYCHOLOGICAL & PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE:
This chemical substance is known to produce psychological and physical dependency.
These are characterized by anxiety, tension and craving for the substance. This substance-seeking behavior can lead to various criminal and other anti-social acts. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use is abruptly stopped. Among these are feeling of apathy, hypersomnia (excessive period of sleep) and depression. Depression may lead to suicide.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS:
Psychiatric consequences are the major features of chronic “Shabu” abuse and dependency. Prolonged use and even a single exposure especially if administered intravenously can lead to manifestations of a full blown psychosis which is similar to schizophrenia characterized by the presence of paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations. The paranoia may lead to violent and aggressive behavior. Some chronic users have difficulty concentrating or remembering things. Diminished ability to cope with problems and difficulties in facing reality are common. Loss of interest in sex, ambition or motivation may also result.
Chronic snorters may suffer from severe irritation of the nasal passages and at times may even develop tissue perforation of the nasal bleed. Renal damage, heart disease and strokes have been documented among chronic abusers.
Injecting “shabu” from contaminated needles may lead to risk of infections resulting in inflammation of the blood vesels (Phebitis), infection of the heart valves (Endocarditis), blood poisoning (Septicemia), and the most dreaded disease AIDS, all of which can lead to death.
INHALANTS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:
1. Confusion/Disorientation
2. Distorted perception of time & distance
3. Aggressive behavior/violence
4. Hallucination
5. Illusions
6. Nausea and vomiting
LONG TERM EFFECTS:
1. Loss of memory
2. Inability to think
3. Muscle cramp and weakness
4. Numbness in limbs
5. Abdominal pains
6. Damage to the central nervous system, kidneys and liver
7. Bone marrow depression
SEDATIVE/HYNOTIC DRUGS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
Sedative-Hypnotics (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, sedatives) are drugs which depress or slow down body functions. These are drugs that can be dangerous when not taken according to a physician’s instructions.
1. Slurred speech
2. Poor judgment
Regular use of the sedative and hypnotic drugs can cause both physical and psychological dependence. User will have to take larger doses to get the same effects.
Users feel they used the drug to function. When regular users stop using these drugs suddenly, they may develop physical withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomia, anxiety, convulsion or death.
ECSTACY
Ecstacy is the name given to 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) by a Los Angeles manufacturer of the drug in order to market it. Other street names of MDMA or “Adam” or XTC is a synthetic, PSYCHOACTIVE (mind allering) drug with hallucegenic and amphetamine like properties. Its chemical structure is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methemphetamine which are known to cause brain damage. MDMA is a so called “designer drug” which are known has become a worldwide problem as well as a serious health threat. It is known to be the cause of several deaths in the US and Europe.
Addictive drugs activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave the drug and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug. The ability of addictive drugs to strongly activate the brain reward mechanisms and their ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems can produce an addiction. Drugs also reduce a person’s level of consciousness, harming their ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.
The Cycle of Addiction
What Is A Drug?
In medical terms, a drug is any substance that when taken into a living organism may modify one or more of its functions. Drugs can provide temporary relief from unhealthy symptoms and/or permanently supply the body with a necessary substance the body can no longer make. Some drugs produce unwanted side affects. Some drugs lead to an unhealthy dependency that has both physiological and behavioral roots.
Why People Use Drugs
No one wants to be a drug addict or alcoholic, but that doesn’t stop people from getting addicted. The most commonly asked question is simply - how? How could my son, daughter, father, sister, or brother become a liar, a thief, someone who cannot be trusted? How could this happen? And why won’t they stop?
The first thing you must understand about addiction, is that alcohol and addictive drugs are basically painkillers. They chemically kill physical or emotional pain and alter the mind’s perception of reality. They make people numb. For drugs to be attractive to a person there must first be some underlying unhappiness, sense of hopelessness, or physical pain that they wish to escape.
Drug Addiction Follows A Cycle Like This:
The life cycle of addiction begins with a problem, discomfort, or some form of emotional or physical pain a person is experiencing. They find this very difficult to deal with.
We start off with an individual who, like most people in our society, is basically good. This person encounters a problem or discomfort that they do not know how to resolve or cannot confront. This could include problems such as difficulty “fitting in” as a child or teenager, anxiety due to peer pressure or work expectations, identity problems or divorce as an adult. It can also include physical discomfort, such as an injury or chronic pain. The person experiencing the discomfort has a real problem and feels their present situation is unendurable, yet sees no good solution to the problem.
Everyone has experienced this in life to a greater or lesser degree. The difference between an addict and the non-addict is that the addict chooses drugs or alcohol as a solution to the unwanted problem or discomfort.
The Addiction Progresses…
Analogous to an adolescent child in his first love affair, the use of drugs or alcohol becomes obsessive. The addicted person is trapped. Whatever problem he was initially trying to solve by using drugs or alcohol fades from memory. At this point, all they can think about is getting and using drugs. They lose the ability to control their usage and disregard the horrible consequences of their actions.
Alcohol And Drug Tolerance
In addition to the mental stress created by their unethical behavior, the addict’s body has also adapted to the presence of the drugs. He will experience an overwhelming obsession with getting and using his drugs, and will do anything to avoid the pain of withdrawing from them. This is when the newly-created addict begins to experience drug cravings. The individual now seeks drugs both for the reward of the “pleasure” they give him, and also to avoid the mental and physical horrors of withdrawal. Ironically, the addict’s ability to get “high” from the alcohol or drug gradually decreases as their body adapts to the presence of foreign chemicals. He must take more and more, not just to get an effect but often just to function at all.
At this point, the addict is stuck in a vicious dwindling spiral. The drugs being abused have changed him both physically and mentally. He has crossed an invisible and intangible line. He is now a drug addict or alcoholic.
Drugs and Problems
A person tries drugs or alcohol. The drug APPEAR to solve his problem. He feels better. Because he now SEEMS better able to deal with life, the drugs become valuable to him.
The person looks at drugs or alcohol as a cure for unwanted feelings. The painkilling effects of drugs or alcohol become a solution to their discomfort. Inadvertently the drug or alcohol now becomes valuable because it helped them feel better. This release is the main reason a person uses drugs or drinks a second or third time. It is just a matter of time before he becomes fully addicted and loses the ability to control his drug usage.
Drug addiction results from excessive or continued use of physiologically habit-forming drugs in an attempt to resolve the underlying symptoms of discomfort or unhappiness.
How Drugs Affect Behavior
The addict will now attempt to withhold the fact of their drug use from friends and family members. They will begin to suffer the effects of their own dishonesty and guilt. They may become withdrawn, difficult to reason with, and possibly develop strange behavior. The more they use drugs and alcohol, the guiltier they will feel, and the more depressed they will become. They will sacrifice their personal integrity, relationships with friends and family, theirs job, savings, and anything else they may possess in an attempt to get more drugs. The drugs are now the most important things in their life. Their relationships and job performance will go drastically downhill.
There is such a thing as a “drug personality”, which is artificially created by drugs. Drugs can change the attitude of a person from his original personality to one secretly harboring hostilities and hatreds he does not permit to show on the surface.
This establishes a link between drugs and increasing difficulties with crime, production and the modern breakdown of social and industrial culture.
The drug personality includes such characteristics as:
•Mood swings.
•Unreliable. Unable to finish projects.
•Unexpressed resentment and secret hatreds.
•Dishonesty. Lies to family, friends, employers.
•Withdraws from those who love him. Isolates self.
•May appear chronically depressed.
•May begin stealing from family and friends.
Drug Metabolites
Drugs and alcohol are broken down in the liver. When a person drinks or uses drugs over a period of time, the body becomes unable to completely eliminate them all. These metabolites, (the substances the body converts the drugs or alcohol into) although removed rapidly from the blood stream, become trapped in the fatty tissues. The problem that needs to be addressed is that these drug residues remain for years.There are various types of tissues that are high in fat content, and these tissues are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored drug metabolites are released into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences a drug re-stimulation (or “flashback”) and drug craving. This is common in the months after an addict quits and can continue to occur for years, or even decades.
The Cycle Of Quitting, Withdrawal, Craving And Relapse.
When the addict initially tries to quit, cells in the brain that have become used to large amounts of these metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts. Even as the withdrawal symptoms subside, the brain “demands” that the addict give it more of the drug. This is called drug craving. Craving is an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds of “reasons” they should begin using drugs or drinking again. He is now trapped in an endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, relapse and fear of withdrawal. Eventually, the brain cells will again become used to having lowered drug metabolites.
However, because deposits of drug or alcohol metabolites release back into the bloodstream from fatty tissues for years, craving and relapse remain a cause for concern. Left unhandled, the presence of metabolites, even in microscopic amounts, cause the brain to react as if the addict had actually taken the drug again, and can set up craving and relapse even after years of sobriety. To prevent relapse due to the above scenario the solution is the Narconon New Life Detoxification procedure.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
Prohibited Drug - Which includes opium and its active components and derivatives, such as heroin and morphine; coca leaf and its derivatives, principally cocaine; alpha and beta eucaine; hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivatives; all preparations made from any of the foregoing; and other drugs and chemical preparations, whether natural or synthetic, with the physiological effects of a narcotic or a hallucinogenic drug; or (As amended by B.P. 179 dated March 2, 1982).
Regulated Drug - Which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital,
phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital, amobarbital and any other drug which contains a salt of a derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer, of amphetamine, such as benzedrine or dexedrine, or any drug which produces a physiological action similar to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound producing similar physiological effects; (As amended by PD No.1683 dated March 14, 1980).
MARIJUANA
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
Marijuana, often called grass, pot, or weed is a crude drug made from Cannabis sativa, a plant that contains a mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Marijuana slows down the user’s mental and psychomotor activities. Users don’t remember what they have learned when they are high. The effects of marijuana can also impair thinking, reading comprehension and verbal and mathematical skills. Marijuana creates other health problems related to: the reproductive system, the heart, the lungs. It has been found that marijuana use may lead to cancer. Long-term regular use of marijuana may lead to psychological dependence. Once started, it may take more of the drug for the user to get the same effect. Young marijuana users are more likely to go on experimenting with other drugs.
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:
1. Faster heartbeat and pulse rate
2. Bloodshot eyes
3. Dry mouth and throat
4. Altered sense of time/disorientation
5. Forgetfulness/inability to think
6. Impaired reflexes, coordination and concentration
“Acute panic anxiety reaction” – extreme fear of losing control
LONG TERM EFFECTS:
1. Chest pain
2. Irregular menstrual cycle
3. Temporary loss of fertility for both sexes
4. Premature babies/low birth weights
5. Cancer
Marijuana “burn-out” (dull, slow moving, inattentive, and unaware of surroundings)
SHABU
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
Shabu is a white odorless crystal or cyrstalline powder with a bitter numbing taste. In the street name for the chemical substance known as Metamphetamine. It is also popularity known as “poor man’s cocaine”. Other slang names are “shabs, ubas, S, siopao, sha and ice”.
ACUTE:
1. Produces anxiety, irritability, irrational behavior, talkativeness and loss of self control.
2. Results in loss of appetite and inability to sleep.
3. Can lead to acute psychotic reactions, violent and destructive
4. behavior and recklessness that may result in accidents.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
Include chest pain, irregularity of heartbeat, hypertension, convulsion and death from cardiac arrest.
PSYCHOLOGICAL & PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE:
This chemical substance is known to produce psychological and physical dependency.
These are characterized by anxiety, tension and craving for the substance. This substance-seeking behavior can lead to various criminal and other anti-social acts. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use is abruptly stopped. Among these are feeling of apathy, hypersomnia (excessive period of sleep) and depression. Depression may lead to suicide.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS:
Psychiatric consequences are the major features of chronic “Shabu” abuse and dependency. Prolonged use and even a single exposure especially if administered intravenously can lead to manifestations of a full blown psychosis which is similar to schizophrenia characterized by the presence of paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations. The paranoia may lead to violent and aggressive behavior. Some chronic users have difficulty concentrating or remembering things. Diminished ability to cope with problems and difficulties in facing reality are common. Loss of interest in sex, ambition or motivation may also result.
Chronic snorters may suffer from severe irritation of the nasal passages and at times may even develop tissue perforation of the nasal bleed. Renal damage, heart disease and strokes have been documented among chronic abusers.
Injecting “shabu” from contaminated needles may lead to risk of infections resulting in inflammation of the blood vesels (Phebitis), infection of the heart valves (Endocarditis), blood poisoning (Septicemia), and the most dreaded disease AIDS, all of which can lead to death.
INHALANTS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:
1. Confusion/Disorientation
2. Distorted perception of time & distance
3. Aggressive behavior/violence
4. Hallucination
5. Illusions
6. Nausea and vomiting
LONG TERM EFFECTS:
1. Loss of memory
2. Inability to think
3. Muscle cramp and weakness
4. Numbness in limbs
5. Abdominal pains
6. Damage to the central nervous system, kidneys and liver
7. Bone marrow depression
SEDATIVE/HYNOTIC DRUGS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)
Sedative-Hypnotics (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, sedatives) are drugs which depress or slow down body functions. These are drugs that can be dangerous when not taken according to a physician’s instructions.
1. Slurred speech
2. Poor judgment
Regular use of the sedative and hypnotic drugs can cause both physical and psychological dependence. User will have to take larger doses to get the same effects.
Users feel they used the drug to function. When regular users stop using these drugs suddenly, they may develop physical withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomia, anxiety, convulsion or death.
ECSTACY
Ecstacy is the name given to 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) by a Los Angeles manufacturer of the drug in order to market it. Other street names of MDMA or “Adam” or XTC is a synthetic, PSYCHOACTIVE (mind allering) drug with hallucegenic and amphetamine like properties. Its chemical structure is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methemphetamine which are known to cause brain damage. MDMA is a so called “designer drug” which are known has become a worldwide problem as well as a serious health threat. It is known to be the cause of several deaths in the US and Europe.
UNDERSTANDING TERRORISM
UNDERSTANDING TERRORISM
It is very important for all of us, including the public, to have a clear understanding of what terrorism is and how it works. A correct appreciation of the problem will greatly help us deal with the situation more effectively. Following are some valuable lessons learned from past events:
At the outset, we must consider that those faceless cowards can choose the time, place and even the manner they would carry out an attack. Hence, all preventive measures can only somehow reduce the threat but can not guarantee total safety. With said reality, we must be resilient; that is, capable and always ready to surge back and restore our lives to normal right after an incident. Never should we allow terrorists to dictate on us.
In examining the nature of terrorism, we are dealing with a multi-dimensional problem. Discussion is centered mostly on the criminal justice aspects: prevention and punishment.
The overriding questions are not technological or legal; they are philosophical and political.
“Terrorists usually employ the weapon of fear in a complicated sort of way. By sowing fear, they can paralyze the will, befuddle the mind and exhaust the strength of an adversary.”
Political considerations form the framework in which the activity of those engaged in terrorism is interpreted. We usually hear people say ? A man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter?. Simply stated, terrorism can be held to revolve around one's political point of view and this is the major impediment standing in the path of a universally acceptable definition of the term. However, regardless of the diversity in our political, religious or social outlook, we should be one in looking at the more important issue. Motivation notwithstanding, the rhetoric of terrorists should not be allowed to conceal their true identity. They are first and foremost, criminals. No doctrine or belief could justify killing helpless, innocent people. Because of the enormous damage they inflict, there is a misconception that terrorists are big in number and so strong. To the contrary, terrorism is the strategy of the weak, a weapon of those small band of rascals who are prepared to use violence but who believe that they would lose any contest by sheer strength.
Terrorism is means to an end, not an end in itself. Let alone, terrorism can accomplish nothing in terms of political goals; it can only aim at obtaining a response that will achieve those goals for it. Said another way, terrorist violence is aimed not so much on the target upon which the initial act is committed but to much wider audience who will view and interpret the act.
The success of terrorism is due in large part to the miscomprehension of the strategy by its opponents; which is, failure to focus on the critical issue of how to respond properly to provocations and threats. Brutality and repression are induced responses that will alienate the government from the masses, thus set the stage for revolution. In dealing with the problem of terrorism, paramount is the rule of law and our respect for human rights.
To be able to correctly interpret events, we must clearly distinguish terrorism from an ordinary criminal act. Not all violent incidents, however terrifying, can be categorized as works of terrorists. The political and social objectives which drive terrorists to act give terrorism a character of its own. Likewise, it is different from regular, as well as guerilla war because in terrorism, innocents are killed deliberately. Its very wickedness makes it a vulnerable strategy.
One possible purpose of a terrorist act is to create strife among the various sectors in a society. Some radicals pull religious verses out of context to suit their objective. But murder has no home in any religious faith. All of the world's major religions preach the values of love, peace, charity and respect for the sanctity of life. Hence, we must not fall into the enemy trap by institutionally faulting religion or its members for the upheaval.
Publicity tends to exaggerate the threats that terrorism pose to society. If we fail to understand its nature, possibility is high that we will make our fears very much greater than the actual threat.
Most of the victims of terrorist violence are innocent bystanders. Obviously then, terrorists are enemies of the humanity thereby making public support an essential factor in our war against terror.
(Note: Join the war against terror. Please reproduce this hand-out and give to friends and neighbors)
It is very important for all of us, including the public, to have a clear understanding of what terrorism is and how it works. A correct appreciation of the problem will greatly help us deal with the situation more effectively. Following are some valuable lessons learned from past events:
At the outset, we must consider that those faceless cowards can choose the time, place and even the manner they would carry out an attack. Hence, all preventive measures can only somehow reduce the threat but can not guarantee total safety. With said reality, we must be resilient; that is, capable and always ready to surge back and restore our lives to normal right after an incident. Never should we allow terrorists to dictate on us.
In examining the nature of terrorism, we are dealing with a multi-dimensional problem. Discussion is centered mostly on the criminal justice aspects: prevention and punishment.
The overriding questions are not technological or legal; they are philosophical and political.
“Terrorists usually employ the weapon of fear in a complicated sort of way. By sowing fear, they can paralyze the will, befuddle the mind and exhaust the strength of an adversary.”
Political considerations form the framework in which the activity of those engaged in terrorism is interpreted. We usually hear people say ? A man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter?. Simply stated, terrorism can be held to revolve around one's political point of view and this is the major impediment standing in the path of a universally acceptable definition of the term. However, regardless of the diversity in our political, religious or social outlook, we should be one in looking at the more important issue. Motivation notwithstanding, the rhetoric of terrorists should not be allowed to conceal their true identity. They are first and foremost, criminals. No doctrine or belief could justify killing helpless, innocent people. Because of the enormous damage they inflict, there is a misconception that terrorists are big in number and so strong. To the contrary, terrorism is the strategy of the weak, a weapon of those small band of rascals who are prepared to use violence but who believe that they would lose any contest by sheer strength.
Terrorism is means to an end, not an end in itself. Let alone, terrorism can accomplish nothing in terms of political goals; it can only aim at obtaining a response that will achieve those goals for it. Said another way, terrorist violence is aimed not so much on the target upon which the initial act is committed but to much wider audience who will view and interpret the act.
The success of terrorism is due in large part to the miscomprehension of the strategy by its opponents; which is, failure to focus on the critical issue of how to respond properly to provocations and threats. Brutality and repression are induced responses that will alienate the government from the masses, thus set the stage for revolution. In dealing with the problem of terrorism, paramount is the rule of law and our respect for human rights.
To be able to correctly interpret events, we must clearly distinguish terrorism from an ordinary criminal act. Not all violent incidents, however terrifying, can be categorized as works of terrorists. The political and social objectives which drive terrorists to act give terrorism a character of its own. Likewise, it is different from regular, as well as guerilla war because in terrorism, innocents are killed deliberately. Its very wickedness makes it a vulnerable strategy.
One possible purpose of a terrorist act is to create strife among the various sectors in a society. Some radicals pull religious verses out of context to suit their objective. But murder has no home in any religious faith. All of the world's major religions preach the values of love, peace, charity and respect for the sanctity of life. Hence, we must not fall into the enemy trap by institutionally faulting religion or its members for the upheaval.
Publicity tends to exaggerate the threats that terrorism pose to society. If we fail to understand its nature, possibility is high that we will make our fears very much greater than the actual threat.
Most of the victims of terrorist violence are innocent bystanders. Obviously then, terrorists are enemies of the humanity thereby making public support an essential factor in our war against terror.
(Note: Join the war against terror. Please reproduce this hand-out and give to friends and neighbors)
Safety Tips on the Streets
Safety Tips on the Streets
1. Day or night, do not walk in dark streets, alleys and unsafe shortcuts.
2. Stay away from dark isolated places or vacant lots at night. These areas are hangouts of criminals. Do not take chances.
3. Do not walk between parked cars in parking lots. Avoid walking alone in unlit and uncertain places. At night, wait for buses, taxicabs or jeepneys in well-lighted areas.
4. When going to economically depressed areas (slums/squatter’s area) communities, do not wear expensive jewelry and carry substantial cash. If you decide to go to such places, remove your jewelry; this may save your life or limbs.
5. Do not flash a lot of cash around when traveling. Money attracts the “bad eggs.”
Commuter Safety
1. When in a bus or jeepney, do not extend your hand out the window; your watch/jewelry could be snatched or your hand injured by another vehicle.
2. When you ride a cab, take the habit of getting the name of the cab, its plate number,and the cab driver’s name. This will be handy in case you leave something in the cab or if the driver tries to hurt or rob you.
3. Be careful with what you carry when riding on a crowded bus. If you are to carry so many things, take a cab home and check the cab well before alighting.
4. If you are to visit someone, call him/her for your expected time of arrival. This will be helpful in case an accident happens on the way. It is also advisable to always inform your relatives or neighbors where you are going and for how long you will be away.
Safety in Commercial Centers
1. Never try to buy something from the sidewalks; instead, go to a department store. The goods may be a little more expensive there but it is safer since you avoid thieves, pickpockets and sidewalk hawkers.
2. Never grab a bargain sold gold watch, diamond ring or anything from the sidewalk. You are likely to be gypped with a stolen good and could be later on charged with theft.
3. Never exchange your wrist watch, expensive pen or gold ring for “a found diamond ring”. Never bargain or argue with strangers in the streets. Ignore them and just leave.
4. Never go with a stranger to get a bargain article. You may be robbed or gypped at the back street.
Tips for Women
1. If someone is talking you, seek the help of security guards (when inside a building)
and then call or go to the nearest police block/station in your area.
2. Do not ride a jeepney if there are no female passengers inside, wait for the next vehicles. It is safer to take a bus if you are commuting alone at night. Sit near the driver if passengers are predominantly male.
3. Do not hitch a ride with a person you do not know very well. It is always safer to take the bus, jeepney or taxicab.
4. Avoid watching movies alone; always take someone with you – a relative or trusted friend.
5. Ask somebody to accompany you when traveling, especially if night will overtake you.
6. Always carry in your bag a whistle or anything that may be used to sound alarm when in danger. Scream or shout for help when you are in danger of being attacked.
1. Day or night, do not walk in dark streets, alleys and unsafe shortcuts.
2. Stay away from dark isolated places or vacant lots at night. These areas are hangouts of criminals. Do not take chances.
3. Do not walk between parked cars in parking lots. Avoid walking alone in unlit and uncertain places. At night, wait for buses, taxicabs or jeepneys in well-lighted areas.
4. When going to economically depressed areas (slums/squatter’s area) communities, do not wear expensive jewelry and carry substantial cash. If you decide to go to such places, remove your jewelry; this may save your life or limbs.
5. Do not flash a lot of cash around when traveling. Money attracts the “bad eggs.”
Commuter Safety
1. When in a bus or jeepney, do not extend your hand out the window; your watch/jewelry could be snatched or your hand injured by another vehicle.
2. When you ride a cab, take the habit of getting the name of the cab, its plate number,and the cab driver’s name. This will be handy in case you leave something in the cab or if the driver tries to hurt or rob you.
3. Be careful with what you carry when riding on a crowded bus. If you are to carry so many things, take a cab home and check the cab well before alighting.
4. If you are to visit someone, call him/her for your expected time of arrival. This will be helpful in case an accident happens on the way. It is also advisable to always inform your relatives or neighbors where you are going and for how long you will be away.
Safety in Commercial Centers
1. Never try to buy something from the sidewalks; instead, go to a department store. The goods may be a little more expensive there but it is safer since you avoid thieves, pickpockets and sidewalk hawkers.
2. Never grab a bargain sold gold watch, diamond ring or anything from the sidewalk. You are likely to be gypped with a stolen good and could be later on charged with theft.
3. Never exchange your wrist watch, expensive pen or gold ring for “a found diamond ring”. Never bargain or argue with strangers in the streets. Ignore them and just leave.
4. Never go with a stranger to get a bargain article. You may be robbed or gypped at the back street.
Tips for Women
1. If someone is talking you, seek the help of security guards (when inside a building)
and then call or go to the nearest police block/station in your area.
2. Do not ride a jeepney if there are no female passengers inside, wait for the next vehicles. It is safer to take a bus if you are commuting alone at night. Sit near the driver if passengers are predominantly male.
3. Do not hitch a ride with a person you do not know very well. It is always safer to take the bus, jeepney or taxicab.
4. Avoid watching movies alone; always take someone with you – a relative or trusted friend.
5. Ask somebody to accompany you when traveling, especially if night will overtake you.
6. Always carry in your bag a whistle or anything that may be used to sound alarm when in danger. Scream or shout for help when you are in danger of being attacked.
Keeping the family Safe
Keeping the family Safe
1. Make sure you and members of your family know the whereabouts of everyone for the day. Place a “whereabouts” board in the kitchen or family room where family members can post their schedules or destinations for the day.
2. Instruct all family members and household help not to entertain strangers at the gate or on the phone. Children should be especially trained not to converse with strangers on the phone. Transactions, if any, should be done outside the gate. This will prevent closer observation of your premises or the household layout.
3. Teach your family and household helps to verify the identity of phone callers before identifying themselves.
4. Never give out information on the whereabouts of family members to just anyone on the phone. Friends or relatives should be politely asked to call again so they can personally talk to the person they are looking for. Should the unknown caller insist on asking to speak to each and every family member, ask for his name and politely say the message will be relayed and that he should call back again. Call the police for assistance if you repeatedly receive anonymous phone calls.
5. Instruct family members and your house help that designated family member must be contacted in an emergency or if there are dubious characters at your door or on your phone. List the important phone numbers in the front or back page of your directory for easy access.
6. Be aware of phone swindlers who call in and report that one family member has been in an accident and is asking for the family member or household help to bring cash or other valuable to a certain place. Verify with another family member before
acting on this.
7. Verify the identity of callers at your gate before opening the door. Use peepholes provided on gates and doors for this purpose. Should the stranger be a repairman, electrician or the like, verify his identity by calling the service office.
8. Advise your children to refrain from playing/loitering on streets outside your residence where they are highly vulnerable to abduction. Advice your children never to leave home without telling you of their destination and expected time of arrival.
Keeping the Children Safe
1. Do a background check of anyone you intend to employ i.e. baby-sitter, gardener, domestic helper, driver or security guard. It is possible that the kidnappers would be utilizing such persons to infiltrate your residence to acquire vital information on household valuable, routines, layout and patterns.
2. Teach your children not to talk to strangers or accept anything from strangers, especially in school. Should they be approached, tell them to report the incident to school authorities.
3. Ask your children’s school not to give out any information regarding your children to anybody. Insist that strict guidelines be followed regarding persons authorized to pick-up your children. Other than those duly authorized by you, your children should not be allowed to leave with any other person without prior authorization from you. For security, children should be asked to talk to the parent authorizing their release. This will help ensure protection against kidnappers who call and claim to be the child’s parents.
Crime Prevention Starts With You And Your Family
More often than not, crimes occur because we open ourselves and our families to criminal opportunities. Talking to strangers, absence of security procedures for anonymous callers, taking for granted one’s safety outside the home, etc. make us easy prey to criminals. In the fight against crime, knowing that the worst can happen makes you less prone to be a victim and more confident of avoiding disasters. Protecting yourself, your family and your home is a matter of responsibility that cannot be taken on by anyone else. You can make the difference.
1. Make sure you and members of your family know the whereabouts of everyone for the day. Place a “whereabouts” board in the kitchen or family room where family members can post their schedules or destinations for the day.
2. Instruct all family members and household help not to entertain strangers at the gate or on the phone. Children should be especially trained not to converse with strangers on the phone. Transactions, if any, should be done outside the gate. This will prevent closer observation of your premises or the household layout.
3. Teach your family and household helps to verify the identity of phone callers before identifying themselves.
4. Never give out information on the whereabouts of family members to just anyone on the phone. Friends or relatives should be politely asked to call again so they can personally talk to the person they are looking for. Should the unknown caller insist on asking to speak to each and every family member, ask for his name and politely say the message will be relayed and that he should call back again. Call the police for assistance if you repeatedly receive anonymous phone calls.
5. Instruct family members and your house help that designated family member must be contacted in an emergency or if there are dubious characters at your door or on your phone. List the important phone numbers in the front or back page of your directory for easy access.
6. Be aware of phone swindlers who call in and report that one family member has been in an accident and is asking for the family member or household help to bring cash or other valuable to a certain place. Verify with another family member before
acting on this.
7. Verify the identity of callers at your gate before opening the door. Use peepholes provided on gates and doors for this purpose. Should the stranger be a repairman, electrician or the like, verify his identity by calling the service office.
8. Advise your children to refrain from playing/loitering on streets outside your residence where they are highly vulnerable to abduction. Advice your children never to leave home without telling you of their destination and expected time of arrival.
Keeping the Children Safe
1. Do a background check of anyone you intend to employ i.e. baby-sitter, gardener, domestic helper, driver or security guard. It is possible that the kidnappers would be utilizing such persons to infiltrate your residence to acquire vital information on household valuable, routines, layout and patterns.
2. Teach your children not to talk to strangers or accept anything from strangers, especially in school. Should they be approached, tell them to report the incident to school authorities.
3. Ask your children’s school not to give out any information regarding your children to anybody. Insist that strict guidelines be followed regarding persons authorized to pick-up your children. Other than those duly authorized by you, your children should not be allowed to leave with any other person without prior authorization from you. For security, children should be asked to talk to the parent authorizing their release. This will help ensure protection against kidnappers who call and claim to be the child’s parents.
Crime Prevention Starts With You And Your Family
More often than not, crimes occur because we open ourselves and our families to criminal opportunities. Talking to strangers, absence of security procedures for anonymous callers, taking for granted one’s safety outside the home, etc. make us easy prey to criminals. In the fight against crime, knowing that the worst can happen makes you less prone to be a victim and more confident of avoiding disasters. Protecting yourself, your family and your home is a matter of responsibility that cannot be taken on by anyone else. You can make the difference.
Securing your Home and your Belongings
Crime Prevention Starts With You And Your Family
More often than not, crimes occur because we open ourselves and our families to criminal opportunities. Talking to strangers, absence of security procedures for anonymous callers, taking for granted one’s safety outside the home, etc. make us easy prey to criminals.
In the fight against crime, knowing that the worst can happen makes you less prone to be a victim and more confident of avoiding disasters. Protecting yourself, your family and your home is a matter of responsibility that cannot be taken on by anyone else. You can make the difference.
Securing your Home and your Belongings
There are three things you can do to help reduce burglary:
1. Make your home burglar-proof.
2. Mark your belongings that burglars are most likely to steal.
3. Be alert to report suspicious persons and unusual activities to the police before a crime may occur.
What can you do?
1. Ensure all doors and windows have locks in working condition. Keep only that is used to enter the house open, all other entry points to your household should be securely locked to prevent unnoticed entry into your home.
2. Make it a habit to check that all doors and windows are locked at night before going to sleep. The dark of night is a most ready camouflage for robbers and other criminals.
3. Outside your home: Prune lower tree limbs – don’t provide the thief with a natural ladder into second floor windows. Keep the view to your house open – criminals love to hide behind tall fences or overgrown bushes while breaking into your home.
4. Keeps porches, yards, and all entrances to your house and garage well lighted. Leave lights on inside your house when you go out for the evening.
5. Keep a record of the important information (especially make, model number, serial number) of all household facilities and equipment, such as TV, radio, video cassette recorder, refrigerator, VCR, washing machine. Have an inventory of your jewelry and other precious items and documents like birth, baptismal and marriage certificates.
6. Store cash and other valuable in the bank. Hiding them inside locked drawers does not guarantee that they will be safe from the knowing eyes and practiced moves of robbers.
7. Bring in all outdoor equipment (bicycles, garden hose, mower, etc.) at night. Leaving these valuables out in the garden or street is an open invitation to robbers and thieves.
8. Protect your house from prying eyes by using curtains or drapes.
9. Provide family members with their own keys to the house. This is safer than leaving the key in a “secret” place, one that can be discovered by any person who takes the time to watch your movements when you leave your home and come back at night.
10.If you and your family are going on a vacation, ask a neighbor to watch your home, or ask a relative to stay in your home while you are away. An empty house is a prime target for criminal elements.
If you are under threat…
If there are suspicious sounds or shadows in your home, try to contract the police quietly so as not to let the intruders know that you are aware of their presence. Most robbers are after the property inside your home, and are more prone to working swiftly and quietly to avoid any physical or violent encounters.
If you awake to the sound of an intruder, you have several options:
1. Lie quietly to avoid attracting attention to yourself, hoping that they will leave you undisturbed.
2. You may choose to open lights and make noise by moving around thereby warning them that you are awake, and scaring them into leaving your home. Even if you are alone in the house, you may speak loudly to an imaginary companion.
3. If you see signs of a break-in or suspicious persons inside your home, do not attempt to go in as the robbers may still be inside. Go to your nearest neighbor and call the police for immediate assistance.
4. Remain calm and do not panic. Although a robber would prefer to avoid confrontation, they are easily agitated and more prone to uncalled for abuse or
violence.
5. Try to talk it out with the robbers. If you are up to it. This will delay them, and allow for alternative action on your part, if the situation allows.
6. Note all peculiarities and mannerisms of the robbers, if you come face-to-face with them. Tattoo marks, physical defects, moles and speech mannerisms will help in giving the police a more solid description of the robbers.
More often than not, crimes occur because we open ourselves and our families to criminal opportunities. Talking to strangers, absence of security procedures for anonymous callers, taking for granted one’s safety outside the home, etc. make us easy prey to criminals.
In the fight against crime, knowing that the worst can happen makes you less prone to be a victim and more confident of avoiding disasters. Protecting yourself, your family and your home is a matter of responsibility that cannot be taken on by anyone else. You can make the difference.
Securing your Home and your Belongings
There are three things you can do to help reduce burglary:
1. Make your home burglar-proof.
2. Mark your belongings that burglars are most likely to steal.
3. Be alert to report suspicious persons and unusual activities to the police before a crime may occur.
What can you do?
1. Ensure all doors and windows have locks in working condition. Keep only that is used to enter the house open, all other entry points to your household should be securely locked to prevent unnoticed entry into your home.
2. Make it a habit to check that all doors and windows are locked at night before going to sleep. The dark of night is a most ready camouflage for robbers and other criminals.
3. Outside your home: Prune lower tree limbs – don’t provide the thief with a natural ladder into second floor windows. Keep the view to your house open – criminals love to hide behind tall fences or overgrown bushes while breaking into your home.
4. Keeps porches, yards, and all entrances to your house and garage well lighted. Leave lights on inside your house when you go out for the evening.
5. Keep a record of the important information (especially make, model number, serial number) of all household facilities and equipment, such as TV, radio, video cassette recorder, refrigerator, VCR, washing machine. Have an inventory of your jewelry and other precious items and documents like birth, baptismal and marriage certificates.
6. Store cash and other valuable in the bank. Hiding them inside locked drawers does not guarantee that they will be safe from the knowing eyes and practiced moves of robbers.
7. Bring in all outdoor equipment (bicycles, garden hose, mower, etc.) at night. Leaving these valuables out in the garden or street is an open invitation to robbers and thieves.
8. Protect your house from prying eyes by using curtains or drapes.
9. Provide family members with their own keys to the house. This is safer than leaving the key in a “secret” place, one that can be discovered by any person who takes the time to watch your movements when you leave your home and come back at night.
10.If you and your family are going on a vacation, ask a neighbor to watch your home, or ask a relative to stay in your home while you are away. An empty house is a prime target for criminal elements.
If you are under threat…
If there are suspicious sounds or shadows in your home, try to contract the police quietly so as not to let the intruders know that you are aware of their presence. Most robbers are after the property inside your home, and are more prone to working swiftly and quietly to avoid any physical or violent encounters.
If you awake to the sound of an intruder, you have several options:
1. Lie quietly to avoid attracting attention to yourself, hoping that they will leave you undisturbed.
2. You may choose to open lights and make noise by moving around thereby warning them that you are awake, and scaring them into leaving your home. Even if you are alone in the house, you may speak loudly to an imaginary companion.
3. If you see signs of a break-in or suspicious persons inside your home, do not attempt to go in as the robbers may still be inside. Go to your nearest neighbor and call the police for immediate assistance.
4. Remain calm and do not panic. Although a robber would prefer to avoid confrontation, they are easily agitated and more prone to uncalled for abuse or
violence.
5. Try to talk it out with the robbers. If you are up to it. This will delay them, and allow for alternative action on your part, if the situation allows.
6. Note all peculiarities and mannerisms of the robbers, if you come face-to-face with them. Tattoo marks, physical defects, moles and speech mannerisms will help in giving the police a more solid description of the robbers.
MODUS OPERANDI (Philippine Experience)
MODUS OPERANDI (Philippine Experience)
Kidnapping: Paano ginawa ng kriminal ang isang krimen ?
Ireport ninyo sa amin kung paano ginawa ang krimen (MODUS OPERANDI) at makakatulong kayo sa iba pa nating mga kababayan na makaiwas.
Robbery and Theft
Robbery is committed by any person, who with intent to gain, shall take any personal property belonging to another, by means of violence against or intimidation of any person, or using force upon anything shall be guilty of robbery (Art. 293, RPC) Theft is committed by any person who, with intent to gain but without violence or intimidation of persons nor force upon things, shall take personal property of another without the latter's consent (Art. 204, RPC). Through the years, the most common forms of robbery and theft have developed their own unique names that depict the means by which they are committed. Among them are the following:
Akyat Bahay
Ang AKYAT BAHAY ang pinaka-karaniwang pamamaraan ng nakawan sa Pilipinas. Kadalasang isinasagawa ng may tatlo hanggang lima kataong grupo. Ang mga nagiging biktima ay bahayang pansamantalang iniwan ng may-ari upang magbakasyon o kaya naman ay nasa trabaho. May mga pangyayari din na kahit nasa loob ang mga nakatira ay ninanakawan pa rin dahil sa kakulangan ng pisikal na depensa. Dis-oras ng gabi lalo na kung natataong malakas ang ulan o kaya naman ay " brown-out" . Mga alahas at kasangkapang pang-bahay ang karaniwang tinatangay ng mga magnanakaw. May ilang pangyayari na kung saan ang mga mag-nanakaw ay may dala-dalang sasakyan upang paglulanan ng mga ninakaw na kasangkapan.
Salisi
Ang karaniwang nasasalisihan ay mga tindahan, tahanan, maging mga opisina na kung saan ang bantay o nagmamayari ay pansamantalang nabaling sa ibang bagay. Sa pagkakataong ito mabilis na isinasakatuparan ang pagnanakaw at alinmang bagay na may halaga at mabilis na maitatago o madadala ay ninanakaw. "Nasalisihan", ika nga.
Bukas Kotse
Karamihang nagaganap sa mga paradahang walang nagbabantay. May mga insidente ring nangyayari kahit na sa mga "pay parking areas" . Sa mga sanay na sa ganitong krimen, ilang segundo lamang ang kinakailangan para mabuksan ang sasakyan. Lahat na mahahalagang bagay sa loob ay kinukuha. May mga pagkakataon rin na kung saan ang sasakyang pilit nabuksan ay pinapaandar papunta sa ibang lugar upang doon "kahoyan" ng gulong, stereo, mga ilaw, upuan, at iba pang mga bagay na maaring tangalin. Kung minsan, nauwi sa ""carnapping"" ang insidente.
Carnapping
Ang "carnapping" ay mabilisan ang pagsasagawa. Kadalasan, 20 -30 segundo lamang ang kinakailangan para ma-carnap. Maaring marahas ang insidente. May mga driver na sinasaktan o kaya naman ay napapatay habang inaagaw ang sasakyan. Karamihan ng carnappers ay armado ng baril o kaya ay patalim. Ang iba pang mga "modus operandi" ay kinabibilangan ng mga sumusunod: Mga "minor" na "traffic accident", kunwa'y nabungo sa hulihan. Kapag lumabas ang driver upang tingnan, mabilis na tinututukan ng suspek ng baril o kaya ay patalim at sabay kinukuha ang sasakyan. Sa mga "stop lights". Ang suspek ay lalapit sa driver na nakatutok ang baril kasabay ang utos na lumabas. Sa mga parking spaces. Bigla na lang haharangan ang iyong sasakyan at isang suspek ang lalapit na may armas at palalabasi n ka sa sasakyan. O kaya naman, ang mga suspek ay nakatayo lamang sa paligid at inaantay ang iyong pagpasok o paglabas sa iyong sasakyan.
Dugo-dugo
Ito ang tawag sa mga insidente na kung saan ang suspek ay tatawag sa telepono o kaya naman ay personal na pupunta sa bahay at nagpapanggap na kamag-anak o kaibigan ng isang miyembro ng pamilya na ayon sa kanya ay nadisgrasya at kinakailangan ng pera o alahas para maipagamot.. Kadalasan katulong ang nakakatanggap ng tawag na sa takot o pagkalito ay agad ibinibigay ang hiling ng suspek.
Budol-budol
Isang halimbawa ng budol budol ay nangyayari sa mga transaksyon ng bayaran. May perang totoo subalit ang karamihan ay mga per-ang peke na. Isa pang halimbawa ay sa mga bentahan ng ginto. Ang ipapakitang sample ay tunay subalit ang iba o ang karamihan ay pawang mga peke na. Madalas ding mangyari sa transakyong pera.
Ipit-Taxi
Kadalasang mga nabibiktima ay mga kababaihan. Pagkasakay ng taxi sa hindi kalayuan, may mga suspek na bigla na lang sasakay at pagigitnaan ang biktima. Hold-up na at ang pera, alahas, at iba pang mahahalagang dala ay kinukuha ng mga suspek.
Kidnapping: Paano ginawa ng kriminal ang isang krimen ?
Ireport ninyo sa amin kung paano ginawa ang krimen (MODUS OPERANDI) at makakatulong kayo sa iba pa nating mga kababayan na makaiwas.
Robbery and Theft
Robbery is committed by any person, who with intent to gain, shall take any personal property belonging to another, by means of violence against or intimidation of any person, or using force upon anything shall be guilty of robbery (Art. 293, RPC) Theft is committed by any person who, with intent to gain but without violence or intimidation of persons nor force upon things, shall take personal property of another without the latter's consent (Art. 204, RPC). Through the years, the most common forms of robbery and theft have developed their own unique names that depict the means by which they are committed. Among them are the following:
Akyat Bahay
Ang AKYAT BAHAY ang pinaka-karaniwang pamamaraan ng nakawan sa Pilipinas. Kadalasang isinasagawa ng may tatlo hanggang lima kataong grupo. Ang mga nagiging biktima ay bahayang pansamantalang iniwan ng may-ari upang magbakasyon o kaya naman ay nasa trabaho. May mga pangyayari din na kahit nasa loob ang mga nakatira ay ninanakawan pa rin dahil sa kakulangan ng pisikal na depensa. Dis-oras ng gabi lalo na kung natataong malakas ang ulan o kaya naman ay " brown-out" . Mga alahas at kasangkapang pang-bahay ang karaniwang tinatangay ng mga magnanakaw. May ilang pangyayari na kung saan ang mga mag-nanakaw ay may dala-dalang sasakyan upang paglulanan ng mga ninakaw na kasangkapan.
Salisi
Ang karaniwang nasasalisihan ay mga tindahan, tahanan, maging mga opisina na kung saan ang bantay o nagmamayari ay pansamantalang nabaling sa ibang bagay. Sa pagkakataong ito mabilis na isinasakatuparan ang pagnanakaw at alinmang bagay na may halaga at mabilis na maitatago o madadala ay ninanakaw. "Nasalisihan", ika nga.
Bukas Kotse
Karamihang nagaganap sa mga paradahang walang nagbabantay. May mga insidente ring nangyayari kahit na sa mga "pay parking areas" . Sa mga sanay na sa ganitong krimen, ilang segundo lamang ang kinakailangan para mabuksan ang sasakyan. Lahat na mahahalagang bagay sa loob ay kinukuha. May mga pagkakataon rin na kung saan ang sasakyang pilit nabuksan ay pinapaandar papunta sa ibang lugar upang doon "kahoyan" ng gulong, stereo, mga ilaw, upuan, at iba pang mga bagay na maaring tangalin. Kung minsan, nauwi sa ""carnapping"" ang insidente.
Carnapping
Ang "carnapping" ay mabilisan ang pagsasagawa. Kadalasan, 20 -30 segundo lamang ang kinakailangan para ma-carnap. Maaring marahas ang insidente. May mga driver na sinasaktan o kaya naman ay napapatay habang inaagaw ang sasakyan. Karamihan ng carnappers ay armado ng baril o kaya ay patalim. Ang iba pang mga "modus operandi" ay kinabibilangan ng mga sumusunod: Mga "minor" na "traffic accident", kunwa'y nabungo sa hulihan. Kapag lumabas ang driver upang tingnan, mabilis na tinututukan ng suspek ng baril o kaya ay patalim at sabay kinukuha ang sasakyan. Sa mga "stop lights". Ang suspek ay lalapit sa driver na nakatutok ang baril kasabay ang utos na lumabas. Sa mga parking spaces. Bigla na lang haharangan ang iyong sasakyan at isang suspek ang lalapit na may armas at palalabasi n ka sa sasakyan. O kaya naman, ang mga suspek ay nakatayo lamang sa paligid at inaantay ang iyong pagpasok o paglabas sa iyong sasakyan.
Dugo-dugo
Ito ang tawag sa mga insidente na kung saan ang suspek ay tatawag sa telepono o kaya naman ay personal na pupunta sa bahay at nagpapanggap na kamag-anak o kaibigan ng isang miyembro ng pamilya na ayon sa kanya ay nadisgrasya at kinakailangan ng pera o alahas para maipagamot.. Kadalasan katulong ang nakakatanggap ng tawag na sa takot o pagkalito ay agad ibinibigay ang hiling ng suspek.
Budol-budol
Isang halimbawa ng budol budol ay nangyayari sa mga transaksyon ng bayaran. May perang totoo subalit ang karamihan ay mga per-ang peke na. Isa pang halimbawa ay sa mga bentahan ng ginto. Ang ipapakitang sample ay tunay subalit ang iba o ang karamihan ay pawang mga peke na. Madalas ding mangyari sa transakyong pera.
Ipit-Taxi
Kadalasang mga nabibiktima ay mga kababaihan. Pagkasakay ng taxi sa hindi kalayuan, may mga suspek na bigla na lang sasakay at pagigitnaan ang biktima. Hold-up na at ang pera, alahas, at iba pang mahahalagang dala ay kinukuha ng mga suspek.
PREVENTIVE TIPS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OWNERS
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CAR
Dos
• Lock your car doors and windows before you leave.
• Fit a gearbox or pedal lock.
• Fit an immobiliser / alarm system.
• Fit a vehicle tracking system.
• Etch your car windows for easy identification.
• Fit security wheel locks on expensive wheels.
• Ensure that radio/cassette players are securely fitted.
Don'ts
• Don't leave valuables inside your car. If you have to leave valuables in your car, put them in the boot.
• Don't leave your keys in the ignition.
• Don't leave your windows open if unattended.
• Don't leave your car parked in dark places at night.
PREVENTIVE TIPS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OWNERS
1. Always lock all car windows and doors before leaving your car in the parking area.
2. Always park your car in lighted areas during nighttime.
3. Park your motor vehicle in secured places.
4. Check the area where you parked against suspicious looking people.
5. Avoid displaying valuables inside your car when parking to avoid temptations.
6. Remove vital parts like “ROTOR” if possible before leaving your car .
7. Install alarm and safety devices when possible.
8. Install hidden master switch.
9. Avoid using the street near your residence as your parking area.
10. Always lock your car windows and doors when traveling in congested areas.
11. Never entrust your car key to strangers to avoid duplicating it.
12. As much as possible, park your car inside the garage and the garage gate must always be secured and locked.
13. Never leave your car unattended while the engine is on and the doors are unlocked.
14. When somebody hit or bumped your car don't alight from your car immediately. Analyze the situation.
15. Avoid hitchhikers especially beautiful women.
16. When waiting for someone don't wait inside the car.
17. Investigate and require driver applicants to submit Police and NBI Clearances.
18. Never entrust to prospective buyers the car you are selling for testing purposes without escort.
19. Never entrust your car key to anybody except to the management when turning over your car for repair.
20. For PUVs, don't bite for huge sum that the passengers are offering to bring them in certain areas unless you know personally the one offering.
21. Take note of the plate numbers of the suspected vehicles tailing that hit you. Then report it immediately to the Police.
Dos
• Lock your car doors and windows before you leave.
• Fit a gearbox or pedal lock.
• Fit an immobiliser / alarm system.
• Fit a vehicle tracking system.
• Etch your car windows for easy identification.
• Fit security wheel locks on expensive wheels.
• Ensure that radio/cassette players are securely fitted.
Don'ts
• Don't leave valuables inside your car. If you have to leave valuables in your car, put them in the boot.
• Don't leave your keys in the ignition.
• Don't leave your windows open if unattended.
• Don't leave your car parked in dark places at night.
PREVENTIVE TIPS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OWNERS
1. Always lock all car windows and doors before leaving your car in the parking area.
2. Always park your car in lighted areas during nighttime.
3. Park your motor vehicle in secured places.
4. Check the area where you parked against suspicious looking people.
5. Avoid displaying valuables inside your car when parking to avoid temptations.
6. Remove vital parts like “ROTOR” if possible before leaving your car .
7. Install alarm and safety devices when possible.
8. Install hidden master switch.
9. Avoid using the street near your residence as your parking area.
10. Always lock your car windows and doors when traveling in congested areas.
11. Never entrust your car key to strangers to avoid duplicating it.
12. As much as possible, park your car inside the garage and the garage gate must always be secured and locked.
13. Never leave your car unattended while the engine is on and the doors are unlocked.
14. When somebody hit or bumped your car don't alight from your car immediately. Analyze the situation.
15. Avoid hitchhikers especially beautiful women.
16. When waiting for someone don't wait inside the car.
17. Investigate and require driver applicants to submit Police and NBI Clearances.
18. Never entrust to prospective buyers the car you are selling for testing purposes without escort.
19. Never entrust your car key to anybody except to the management when turning over your car for repair.
20. For PUVs, don't bite for huge sum that the passengers are offering to bring them in certain areas unless you know personally the one offering.
21. Take note of the plate numbers of the suspected vehicles tailing that hit you. Then report it immediately to the Police.
ATM SAFETY AND SECURITY TIPS
ATM SAFETY AND SECURITY TIPS
The primary focus of the ATM Crime Prevention Program is user safety. Due to heightened user awareness and prevention applications, a recent survey indicated that ATM crime incidents are on a downward trend.
Because of the variety of ATMs, the unique characteristics of each installation, and crime considerations at each location, no single formula can guarantee the security of ATM customers. Therefore, it is necessary for ATM customers to consider the environment around each ATM and various procedures for remaining safe when using an ATM.
Criminals select their victims and targets, focusing on the unaware or unprepared. Criminals are also drawn to environmental conditions that enhance the opportunity to successfully complete their crime. The attitude and demeanor you convey can have a tremendous effect on potential assailants. There are a number of things you can do to increase your personal security and reduce your risk of becoming an ATM crime victim.
The following crime prevention tips can help make the use of ATM's safer for everyone.
• Walk purposefully and with confidence. Give the appearance that you are totally aware of your surroundings
• Be aware of your total environment and what is going on around you. Criminals tend to avoid people who have this type of demeanor
• Perform mental exercises and think out what you would do in different crime or personal security situations
• Follow your instincts. If you feel you are in danger, respond immediately. Remember that your personal safety is the first priority
ATM Selection Considerations
The law sets minimum standards for ATM lighting, procedures for evaluating the safety of ATM' s and requires notices to ATM users outlining basic safety precautions for using ATM' s. Although ATM environmental design issues are covered in the law, there are other considerations that an ATM customer needs to consider prior to selecting and using an ATM. For example:
• Do not select an ATM at the corner of a building. Corners create a blind s area in close proximity to the customer'transaction. Select an ATM located near the center of a building. An ATM further from the corner reduces the element of surprise by an assailant and increases effective reaction time by the user
• Identify an ATM with maximum natural surveillance and visibility from the surrounding area. This will create a perceived notion of detection by a criminal and increases the potential for witnesses
• Select an ATM at a location void of barriers blocking the line of sight of the ATM. This includes shrubbery, landscaping, signs and decorative partitions or dividers. Barriers provide hiding areas for would-be assailants
• Select an ATM that is in a well-lighted location
• Whenever possible, select an ATM that is monitored or patrolled by a security officer
• Select an ATM with a wide-angle transaction camera and/or a continuous transaction surveillance camera. Consult the bank or location management for this information
• Solicit prior criminal activity statistics from law enforcement for the ATM site and surrounding neighborhood
• Avoid ATM locations with large perimeter parking lots and numerous ingress and egress points
Considerations Prior To and During Transactions
• Always watch for suspicious persons or activity around an ATM. Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car in close proximity to or at a distance from the ATM location
• If you notice anything strange, leave and return some other time. Even if you have already started a transaction, cancel it and leave.
• Maintain a small supply of deposit envelopes at home, in your car or office. Prepare all transaction paperwork prior to your arrival at the ATM site. This will minimize the amount of time spent at the ATM
• Maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire transaction. Do not become so involved with your transaction that you are not aware of changing conditions in the area
• Do not wear expensive jewelry or take other valuables to the ATM. This is an added incentive to an assailant
• If you get cash -put it away right immediately. Do not stand at the ATM and count it
• Never accept offers of assistance with the ATM from strangers; ask the bank for help
• Never lend your ATM card to anyone; treat it as if were cash or a credit card
• If you use a drive-up ATM, ascertain your vehicle doors and windows are locked
• During evening hours consider taking a companion along, park close to the ATM In a well lighted area and lock your car. If the lights around the ATM are not working properly, do not use it
• When leaving an ATM location make sure you are not being followed. If you are being followed, drive immediately to a police, sheriff or fire station, crowded area, well-lighted location or open business. Flash your lights and sound your horn to bring attention to your situation
• If you are involved in a confrontation and the attacker is armed with a weapon and demands your money or valuables, GIVE IT TO THE SUSPECT. Do not resist, property may be recovered later or replaced
Fraud Considerations
• Memorize your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Do not write it down or keep it in your wallet or purse. Do not tell anyone else your PIN ANYONE !! (including bank employees, the police, etc.)
• Shield the ATM keypad from anyone who may be standing or parked nearby or anyone crowding you in an attempt to view your PIN and/or transaction. Use your body as a shield if necessary while you enter your access code
• Make sure you retain your transaction receipt. Do not throw the receipt away at the ATM site
• The National Consumers League has opened a toll-free number to provide information on ATM frauds and scams. Immediately report any stolen or lost ATM card to the proper entities
As far as your security is concerned, you can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware. Share this information with family and friends. Schedule family discussions and practice regularly to ensure that everyone you know is safe and informed.
The primary focus of the ATM Crime Prevention Program is user safety. Due to heightened user awareness and prevention applications, a recent survey indicated that ATM crime incidents are on a downward trend.
Because of the variety of ATMs, the unique characteristics of each installation, and crime considerations at each location, no single formula can guarantee the security of ATM customers. Therefore, it is necessary for ATM customers to consider the environment around each ATM and various procedures for remaining safe when using an ATM.
Criminals select their victims and targets, focusing on the unaware or unprepared. Criminals are also drawn to environmental conditions that enhance the opportunity to successfully complete their crime. The attitude and demeanor you convey can have a tremendous effect on potential assailants. There are a number of things you can do to increase your personal security and reduce your risk of becoming an ATM crime victim.
The following crime prevention tips can help make the use of ATM's safer for everyone.
• Walk purposefully and with confidence. Give the appearance that you are totally aware of your surroundings
• Be aware of your total environment and what is going on around you. Criminals tend to avoid people who have this type of demeanor
• Perform mental exercises and think out what you would do in different crime or personal security situations
• Follow your instincts. If you feel you are in danger, respond immediately. Remember that your personal safety is the first priority
ATM Selection Considerations
The law sets minimum standards for ATM lighting, procedures for evaluating the safety of ATM' s and requires notices to ATM users outlining basic safety precautions for using ATM' s. Although ATM environmental design issues are covered in the law, there are other considerations that an ATM customer needs to consider prior to selecting and using an ATM. For example:
• Do not select an ATM at the corner of a building. Corners create a blind s area in close proximity to the customer'transaction. Select an ATM located near the center of a building. An ATM further from the corner reduces the element of surprise by an assailant and increases effective reaction time by the user
• Identify an ATM with maximum natural surveillance and visibility from the surrounding area. This will create a perceived notion of detection by a criminal and increases the potential for witnesses
• Select an ATM at a location void of barriers blocking the line of sight of the ATM. This includes shrubbery, landscaping, signs and decorative partitions or dividers. Barriers provide hiding areas for would-be assailants
• Select an ATM that is in a well-lighted location
• Whenever possible, select an ATM that is monitored or patrolled by a security officer
• Select an ATM with a wide-angle transaction camera and/or a continuous transaction surveillance camera. Consult the bank or location management for this information
• Solicit prior criminal activity statistics from law enforcement for the ATM site and surrounding neighborhood
• Avoid ATM locations with large perimeter parking lots and numerous ingress and egress points
Considerations Prior To and During Transactions
• Always watch for suspicious persons or activity around an ATM. Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car in close proximity to or at a distance from the ATM location
• If you notice anything strange, leave and return some other time. Even if you have already started a transaction, cancel it and leave.
• Maintain a small supply of deposit envelopes at home, in your car or office. Prepare all transaction paperwork prior to your arrival at the ATM site. This will minimize the amount of time spent at the ATM
• Maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire transaction. Do not become so involved with your transaction that you are not aware of changing conditions in the area
• Do not wear expensive jewelry or take other valuables to the ATM. This is an added incentive to an assailant
• If you get cash -put it away right immediately. Do not stand at the ATM and count it
• Never accept offers of assistance with the ATM from strangers; ask the bank for help
• Never lend your ATM card to anyone; treat it as if were cash or a credit card
• If you use a drive-up ATM, ascertain your vehicle doors and windows are locked
• During evening hours consider taking a companion along, park close to the ATM In a well lighted area and lock your car. If the lights around the ATM are not working properly, do not use it
• When leaving an ATM location make sure you are not being followed. If you are being followed, drive immediately to a police, sheriff or fire station, crowded area, well-lighted location or open business. Flash your lights and sound your horn to bring attention to your situation
• If you are involved in a confrontation and the attacker is armed with a weapon and demands your money or valuables, GIVE IT TO THE SUSPECT. Do not resist, property may be recovered later or replaced
Fraud Considerations
• Memorize your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Do not write it down or keep it in your wallet or purse. Do not tell anyone else your PIN ANYONE !! (including bank employees, the police, etc.)
• Shield the ATM keypad from anyone who may be standing or parked nearby or anyone crowding you in an attempt to view your PIN and/or transaction. Use your body as a shield if necessary while you enter your access code
• Make sure you retain your transaction receipt. Do not throw the receipt away at the ATM site
• The National Consumers League has opened a toll-free number to provide information on ATM frauds and scams. Immediately report any stolen or lost ATM card to the proper entities
As far as your security is concerned, you can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware. Share this information with family and friends. Schedule family discussions and practice regularly to ensure that everyone you know is safe and informed.
INTERNET CRIME PREVENTION
The Internet places a vast amount of information and exciting experiences at your command. With the click of the mouse, the Internet allows you to buy an airline ticket, book a hotel, send flowers to a friend, or purchase your favorite stock. However, as the legitimate use of the Internet increases throughout our nation and the world, the wrongful use of the Internet to commit crime and victimize people also increases. The following Internet crime prevention information is meant to help you protect yourself, your loved ones, your friends, your neighbors and your community, and to make your journey on the Internet as safe, secure and crime free as possible.
Common Internet Crimes :
Child Exploitation
Children can be sexually exploited, kidnapped, molested and solicited by individuals using online service. One reason is the anonymous nature of the Internet. Another reason is the large number of people using the Internet. Pedophiles will make contact with victims by having children call collect so the pedophile's telephone number will not show up on their parent's telephone bill. Pedophiles will also purchase a prepaid telephone card and give children a toll free access number enabling children to call from anywhere they choose. Pedophiles will often convince children to send them a photograph. Pedophiles will offer children money for their photograph and/or pose as professional photographers to obtain nude, graphic or sexually explicit photographs of children. Pedophiles commonly attempt to lower the inhibitions of children through deception in an attempt to lead children into their sexual conversations or acts. There are a number of ways parents can protect their children from becoming victims of pedophiles on the Internet.
The following are some examples:
• Choose an online service that offers parental control features;
• Purchase blocking software and design your own safety system;
• Monitor children that are online and monitor the time they spend online;
• Ensure children never reveal identifying information about themselves on the Internet in a public chat room, on an electronicbulletin board or in their E-mail messages;
• Ensure children do not give out personal information about themselves such as their age;
• Consider using a pseudonym or unlisting your child' s name;
• Get to know the services your child uses;
• Block out objectionable material through your Internet service provider;
• Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission;
• Ensure children never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent or threatening;
• Encourage children to tell you whenever they encounter such messages;
• If you or your children receives a message that is harassing, sexual in nature, or threatening, forward a copy of the message to your service provider and ask for their assistance;
• If you become aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography while online, report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children;
• Teach children that people online may not be who they seem;
• Teach children online service providers never ask for passwords and they should never give their password out;
• Teach children that everything they read or see on the Internet may not be true;
• Teach children to never let anyone pressure them into doing something they feel uncomfortable doing;
• Teach children to never enter an area on the Internet that charges for services without asking permission from a responsible adult first;
• Some children have access to the Internet at school. Check with the school authorities to ensure your children are properly supervised and monitored by a responsible adult;
• Know your children' s friends and their parents.
The Pump And Dump
This is a stock scam. Messages are posted on the Internet urging readers to buy stock quickly that is poised for rapid growth. The message writer often claims to have inside information about an impending development. The reality is that the writer stands to gain by selling or buying stock shares after the price goes up or down. This ploy is normally used with unregistered, little known, thinly traded stocks.
The Hijack
The Hijack is relatively new form of fraud unique to the Internet. Consumers are prompted to download a purported “viewer program” to see computer images for free. Once downloaded, the consumer's computer is “hijacked” by the viewer program which turns off the consumer's modem speakers, disconnects the from local Internet provider, dials an international number and connects the consumer to a remote site. The expensive international costs are charged to the consumer's telephone bill until the telephone us turned off.
Pyramid Schemes
Pyramid schemes are similar to multi-level marketing. Pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. They are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When that happens, most people lost their money. The Internet offers a fast lane for pyramid builders by facilitating a large-scale recruitment pool in little or no time. Be extremely cautious if a promoter offers you an extremely large short-term return on any investment, particularly if there is a disclaimer that the investment is “high-risk and you could lose all of you money”. Additionally, if there are no written claims delineating the return on other's investments, you are quite possibly looking at a pyramid scheme. Beware of all get rich quick schemes. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Gambling
One of the greatest potential dangers for fraudulent loss posed for people using the Internet is gambling. There are as many as 200 gambling sites on the Internet. Consumers can gamble on sports, blackjack, keno, roulette, etc. Gambling on the Internet is especially risky because gambling is an unregulated industry and currently, there is no effective way to control it. Companies based in foreign countries using foreign bank accounts are able to easily bilk consumers out of their money. Many times Internet “gamblers” are unable to contact the companies with whom they placed their bets to collect their winnings. Gambling on the Internet exposes consumers to fraud, civil liability and possible criminal liability.
Online Auctions
Online auctions are popular to many people who use the Internet. Generally, online auctions are person-to-person sales where individuals bid for various types of merchandise. The highest bidder then pays in advance of receiving the merchandise. A growing priblem is sellers failing to deliver merchandise that consumers have purchased.
Fraud
Internet fraud takes many forms. The Internet' s promise of substantial consumer benefits is coupled with the potential for fraud and deception. Fraud operators are opportunists who are among the first to appreciate the potential of a new technology. There is nothing new about Internet fraud, however, the size and potential market, relative ease, low cost, and speed with which a scam can be perpetrated has increased tremendously.
Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail
Internet service providers report handling 60 million electronic messages per day. Estimates of Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (UCE) indicate it comprises as much as one-third of the total E-mail traffic. This ever-increasing volume of UCE strains the capacity of online service providers and threatens the development of the Internet as a conduit for commerce. Beyond the sheer volume and potential annoyance of UCE, many UCE messages may also be misleading or deceptive.
Teaser Pages
The Internet is rife with fraud and deception. Some web pages "tease" individuals with promises of easy money for little or nothing. These scams include phony scholarships, travel programs, weight loss programs and others.
High Pressure Sales
A high-pressure sales pitch may sound exciting, however, as a rule, such a pitch should be resisted. Before you invest any money, take your time. Get a second opinion from a financial planner, an attorney, or an accountant you can trust. Finally, research the company's reputation. Call your local consumer protection agency in the city where the company is headquartered for more information.
Following are lines frequently used by scam artists:
• "We don't make money unless you make money."
• "I know you get offers everyday from people who tell you they're going to make you rich. I can make it easy for you to make your decision based on actual facts."
• "This opportunity is the best chance to make extra money for guys who work for a living; guys like you and me."
• "I've been in this business for 20 years and I can tell you this;
• I know of no other program that is legal, easy to afford and can bring in this kind of big money from such a small investment."
• "I know this can work for you and I personally guarantee your success, right down to the last penny."
• "Give me one percent of your trust and I'll earn the other 99 percent when you see the return."
• "Of course there is a risk, there is a risk in everything."
• "Sure we could finance this venture ourselves, however, we're trying to build a power base for the future for folks like you."
• "We're talking about a cash cow here, it's going fast and I need your check tomorrow at the latest."
• "I can't be lying, there are laws against lying." The Risk Free Scam Many times this scam solicits its victims with exotic-sounding investments such as wireless cable projects, prime bank securities or fictitious business ventures overseas. Promoters misrepresent risk to "investors" by comparing their offer to something safe, such as bank security deposits. Many times the investment offer never really exists.
What is Cyber harassment?
Cyber harassment is an immoral behavior by someone or a group, who uses technology such as computers, internet or mobile devices to send disturbing messages to bother, humiliate, threaten, or stalk someone else. The schemes used consist of emails, instant chat messaging, blog message, text messages sent via cell phones, digital photos, videos and all other means of electronic communication.
The types of content a cyber harasser may send include the following:
* offensive and confrontational message
* foul words, cruel, hateful, and insulting remarks
* threats, intimidations and false promises
* scandals or rumor mongering
The methods a cyber harasser could use to bother the victim may include the following:
* publication of secrets or embarrassing situations, including pictures or videos, for everyone to see and hear
* publication of gossip or rumors for the explicit purpose of damaging the person’s character
* sharing of messages pretending to be the victim in an attempt to damage that person’s morality, friendships, family or work reputation to result in the separation of the victim from friends, co-workers and family
Who are Cyber Harassers?
In some cases, a cyber harasser can also harass in face-to-face encounters. Harassing over the computer may be a natural extension of their disturbing behavior.
Some people who become cyber harassers may be the victims of harassment and are taking out their anger and frustration in the internet. They may be targeting the people who harassed them or they may have picked a different target.
Still others regard cyber harassing as a game or joke -- nothing more than a fun thing to do.
Who are the Victims of Cyber Harassment?
Majority of victims are children and the youth but there are also adults who are cyber harassing grown-up victims usually women in the workplace.
Generally, cyber harassers know their victim, but rarely do they pick victims they don’t know. In these situations, the cyber harasser is picking on someone based on a type of bias or prejudice. They may pick on people based on religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or people who are considered different from their point of view.
Other times, they will pick on someone based on a message that he or she has posted or sent that the harasser doesn’t like.
Why Can Cyber Harassment be as Harmful as Physical Harassment?
A lot of people mistakenly think that “words, pictures or videos can never hurt.” In the internet, on the other hand, cyber harassers can conduct harassment at any given time and place, thanks to modern technology. As long as the victims are identified and online, they are open to cyber harassment.
People who commit cyber harassment pick on an individual just for the feeling of power that it gives them, financial gain or favor. Because the Internet seems to give anonymity, cyber harassment is often seen to have less liability to the cyber harassers, which can encourage them to continue and be aggressive.
An additional characteristic of internet that can lead cyber harassment to be as harmful as a physical harassment is that cyber harassers aren’t physically there when they are harassing their victims which can lead to a lessened consideration. Since the harassers cannot see how much they are hurting the victims, they may think they have not actually hurt them much or at all and may, therefore, continue the harassing behavior.
Some individuals believe that there are no rules in cyberspace. They feel free to do whatever they wish. Moreover, they believe they have the RIGHT to do whatever they want in cyberspace without accountability or consequences.
Some of the victims of cyber harassment, who are unable to handle it, either retaliate violently or in extreme situations commit suicide due to severe humiliation.
Warning Signs Your Child may be a Victim of Cyber Harassment
If your child exhibits the following, it may be a warning sign:
* displaying signs of depression, sadness, nervousness or fear – particularly if these signs intensify after your child uses the cell phone or after being online
* avoiding friends, social activities, or school
* experiencing difficulty with school or a drop in grades for no apparent reason
* expressing slight comments that indicate your child is disturbed or upset
What to do if a Cyber Harasser Targets Your Child
Revenge may only escalate the problem. If you feel the need to respond to a cyber harasser, help your child develop appropriate preventive actions by asking if possible the parent or guardian of the child who does cyber harassment to stop the misbehavior.
By filtering email, instant messages and text messages and blocking mobile numbers, you can cut off many of the ways they can contact your child. By having your child avoid the sites and groups where the attacks occur, he or she can ignore the cyber harasser.
In case harassment continues, then you can change your child’s email address, Internet account, mobile number and username(s).
If none of these steps are successful, you may need to take additional legal action, as follows:
1. Compile a copy of all harassing messages and postings. Save the addresses of web sites where other hostile information, embarrassing pictures or negative messages are posted. The more documentation you have the better.
2. Contact your child’s school. Even if the cyber harassment is not occurring in school, officials might be able to assist.
3. Contact the child’s parents or guardian by sending a formal letter, face to face conversation detailing the harassment messages sent and asking them to make it stop. The parents and their child could be liable for civil or criminal offenses due to emotional damages.
4. Finally, if the situation is not resolved, or if physical threats are made, contact the nearest PNP police station in your area.
The Internet places a vast amount of information and exciting experiences at your command. With the click of the mouse, the Internet allows you to buy an airline ticket, book a hotel, send flowers to a friend, or purchase your favorite stock. However, as the legitimate use of the Internet increases throughout our nation and the world, the wrongful use of the Internet to commit crime and victimize people also increases. The following Internet crime prevention information is meant to help you protect yourself, your loved ones, your friends, your neighbors and your community, and to make your journey on the Internet as safe, secure and crime free as possible.
Common Internet Crimes :
Child Exploitation
Children can be sexually exploited, kidnapped, molested and solicited by individuals using online service. One reason is the anonymous nature of the Internet. Another reason is the large number of people using the Internet. Pedophiles will make contact with victims by having children call collect so the pedophile's telephone number will not show up on their parent's telephone bill. Pedophiles will also purchase a prepaid telephone card and give children a toll free access number enabling children to call from anywhere they choose. Pedophiles will often convince children to send them a photograph. Pedophiles will offer children money for their photograph and/or pose as professional photographers to obtain nude, graphic or sexually explicit photographs of children. Pedophiles commonly attempt to lower the inhibitions of children through deception in an attempt to lead children into their sexual conversations or acts. There are a number of ways parents can protect their children from becoming victims of pedophiles on the Internet.
The following are some examples:
• Choose an online service that offers parental control features;
• Purchase blocking software and design your own safety system;
• Monitor children that are online and monitor the time they spend online;
• Ensure children never reveal identifying information about themselves on the Internet in a public chat room, on an electronicbulletin board or in their E-mail messages;
• Ensure children do not give out personal information about themselves such as their age;
• Consider using a pseudonym or unlisting your child' s name;
• Get to know the services your child uses;
• Block out objectionable material through your Internet service provider;
• Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission;
• Ensure children never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent or threatening;
• Encourage children to tell you whenever they encounter such messages;
• If you or your children receives a message that is harassing, sexual in nature, or threatening, forward a copy of the message to your service provider and ask for their assistance;
• If you become aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography while online, report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children;
• Teach children that people online may not be who they seem;
• Teach children online service providers never ask for passwords and they should never give their password out;
• Teach children that everything they read or see on the Internet may not be true;
• Teach children to never let anyone pressure them into doing something they feel uncomfortable doing;
• Teach children to never enter an area on the Internet that charges for services without asking permission from a responsible adult first;
• Some children have access to the Internet at school. Check with the school authorities to ensure your children are properly supervised and monitored by a responsible adult;
• Know your children' s friends and their parents.
The Pump And Dump
This is a stock scam. Messages are posted on the Internet urging readers to buy stock quickly that is poised for rapid growth. The message writer often claims to have inside information about an impending development. The reality is that the writer stands to gain by selling or buying stock shares after the price goes up or down. This ploy is normally used with unregistered, little known, thinly traded stocks.
The Hijack
The Hijack is relatively new form of fraud unique to the Internet. Consumers are prompted to download a purported “viewer program” to see computer images for free. Once downloaded, the consumer's computer is “hijacked” by the viewer program which turns off the consumer's modem speakers, disconnects the from local Internet provider, dials an international number and connects the consumer to a remote site. The expensive international costs are charged to the consumer's telephone bill until the telephone us turned off.
Pyramid Schemes
Pyramid schemes are similar to multi-level marketing. Pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. They are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When that happens, most people lost their money. The Internet offers a fast lane for pyramid builders by facilitating a large-scale recruitment pool in little or no time. Be extremely cautious if a promoter offers you an extremely large short-term return on any investment, particularly if there is a disclaimer that the investment is “high-risk and you could lose all of you money”. Additionally, if there are no written claims delineating the return on other's investments, you are quite possibly looking at a pyramid scheme. Beware of all get rich quick schemes. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Gambling
One of the greatest potential dangers for fraudulent loss posed for people using the Internet is gambling. There are as many as 200 gambling sites on the Internet. Consumers can gamble on sports, blackjack, keno, roulette, etc. Gambling on the Internet is especially risky because gambling is an unregulated industry and currently, there is no effective way to control it. Companies based in foreign countries using foreign bank accounts are able to easily bilk consumers out of their money. Many times Internet “gamblers” are unable to contact the companies with whom they placed their bets to collect their winnings. Gambling on the Internet exposes consumers to fraud, civil liability and possible criminal liability.
Online Auctions
Online auctions are popular to many people who use the Internet. Generally, online auctions are person-to-person sales where individuals bid for various types of merchandise. The highest bidder then pays in advance of receiving the merchandise. A growing priblem is sellers failing to deliver merchandise that consumers have purchased.
Fraud
Internet fraud takes many forms. The Internet' s promise of substantial consumer benefits is coupled with the potential for fraud and deception. Fraud operators are opportunists who are among the first to appreciate the potential of a new technology. There is nothing new about Internet fraud, however, the size and potential market, relative ease, low cost, and speed with which a scam can be perpetrated has increased tremendously.
Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail
Internet service providers report handling 60 million electronic messages per day. Estimates of Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (UCE) indicate it comprises as much as one-third of the total E-mail traffic. This ever-increasing volume of UCE strains the capacity of online service providers and threatens the development of the Internet as a conduit for commerce. Beyond the sheer volume and potential annoyance of UCE, many UCE messages may also be misleading or deceptive.
Teaser Pages
The Internet is rife with fraud and deception. Some web pages "tease" individuals with promises of easy money for little or nothing. These scams include phony scholarships, travel programs, weight loss programs and others.
High Pressure Sales
A high-pressure sales pitch may sound exciting, however, as a rule, such a pitch should be resisted. Before you invest any money, take your time. Get a second opinion from a financial planner, an attorney, or an accountant you can trust. Finally, research the company's reputation. Call your local consumer protection agency in the city where the company is headquartered for more information.
Following are lines frequently used by scam artists:
• "We don't make money unless you make money."
• "I know you get offers everyday from people who tell you they're going to make you rich. I can make it easy for you to make your decision based on actual facts."
• "This opportunity is the best chance to make extra money for guys who work for a living; guys like you and me."
• "I've been in this business for 20 years and I can tell you this;
• I know of no other program that is legal, easy to afford and can bring in this kind of big money from such a small investment."
• "I know this can work for you and I personally guarantee your success, right down to the last penny."
• "Give me one percent of your trust and I'll earn the other 99 percent when you see the return."
• "Of course there is a risk, there is a risk in everything."
• "Sure we could finance this venture ourselves, however, we're trying to build a power base for the future for folks like you."
• "We're talking about a cash cow here, it's going fast and I need your check tomorrow at the latest."
• "I can't be lying, there are laws against lying." The Risk Free Scam Many times this scam solicits its victims with exotic-sounding investments such as wireless cable projects, prime bank securities or fictitious business ventures overseas. Promoters misrepresent risk to "investors" by comparing their offer to something safe, such as bank security deposits. Many times the investment offer never really exists.
What is Cyber harassment?
Cyber harassment is an immoral behavior by someone or a group, who uses technology such as computers, internet or mobile devices to send disturbing messages to bother, humiliate, threaten, or stalk someone else. The schemes used consist of emails, instant chat messaging, blog message, text messages sent via cell phones, digital photos, videos and all other means of electronic communication.
The types of content a cyber harasser may send include the following:
* offensive and confrontational message
* foul words, cruel, hateful, and insulting remarks
* threats, intimidations and false promises
* scandals or rumor mongering
The methods a cyber harasser could use to bother the victim may include the following:
* publication of secrets or embarrassing situations, including pictures or videos, for everyone to see and hear
* publication of gossip or rumors for the explicit purpose of damaging the person’s character
* sharing of messages pretending to be the victim in an attempt to damage that person’s morality, friendships, family or work reputation to result in the separation of the victim from friends, co-workers and family
Who are Cyber Harassers?
In some cases, a cyber harasser can also harass in face-to-face encounters. Harassing over the computer may be a natural extension of their disturbing behavior.
Some people who become cyber harassers may be the victims of harassment and are taking out their anger and frustration in the internet. They may be targeting the people who harassed them or they may have picked a different target.
Still others regard cyber harassing as a game or joke -- nothing more than a fun thing to do.
Who are the Victims of Cyber Harassment?
Majority of victims are children and the youth but there are also adults who are cyber harassing grown-up victims usually women in the workplace.
Generally, cyber harassers know their victim, but rarely do they pick victims they don’t know. In these situations, the cyber harasser is picking on someone based on a type of bias or prejudice. They may pick on people based on religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or people who are considered different from their point of view.
Other times, they will pick on someone based on a message that he or she has posted or sent that the harasser doesn’t like.
Why Can Cyber Harassment be as Harmful as Physical Harassment?
A lot of people mistakenly think that “words, pictures or videos can never hurt.” In the internet, on the other hand, cyber harassers can conduct harassment at any given time and place, thanks to modern technology. As long as the victims are identified and online, they are open to cyber harassment.
People who commit cyber harassment pick on an individual just for the feeling of power that it gives them, financial gain or favor. Because the Internet seems to give anonymity, cyber harassment is often seen to have less liability to the cyber harassers, which can encourage them to continue and be aggressive.
An additional characteristic of internet that can lead cyber harassment to be as harmful as a physical harassment is that cyber harassers aren’t physically there when they are harassing their victims which can lead to a lessened consideration. Since the harassers cannot see how much they are hurting the victims, they may think they have not actually hurt them much or at all and may, therefore, continue the harassing behavior.
Some individuals believe that there are no rules in cyberspace. They feel free to do whatever they wish. Moreover, they believe they have the RIGHT to do whatever they want in cyberspace without accountability or consequences.
Some of the victims of cyber harassment, who are unable to handle it, either retaliate violently or in extreme situations commit suicide due to severe humiliation.
Warning Signs Your Child may be a Victim of Cyber Harassment
If your child exhibits the following, it may be a warning sign:
* displaying signs of depression, sadness, nervousness or fear – particularly if these signs intensify after your child uses the cell phone or after being online
* avoiding friends, social activities, or school
* experiencing difficulty with school or a drop in grades for no apparent reason
* expressing slight comments that indicate your child is disturbed or upset
What to do if a Cyber Harasser Targets Your Child
Revenge may only escalate the problem. If you feel the need to respond to a cyber harasser, help your child develop appropriate preventive actions by asking if possible the parent or guardian of the child who does cyber harassment to stop the misbehavior.
By filtering email, instant messages and text messages and blocking mobile numbers, you can cut off many of the ways they can contact your child. By having your child avoid the sites and groups where the attacks occur, he or she can ignore the cyber harasser.
In case harassment continues, then you can change your child’s email address, Internet account, mobile number and username(s).
If none of these steps are successful, you may need to take additional legal action, as follows:
1. Compile a copy of all harassing messages and postings. Save the addresses of web sites where other hostile information, embarrassing pictures or negative messages are posted. The more documentation you have the better.
2. Contact your child’s school. Even if the cyber harassment is not occurring in school, officials might be able to assist.
3. Contact the child’s parents or guardian by sending a formal letter, face to face conversation detailing the harassment messages sent and asking them to make it stop. The parents and their child could be liable for civil or criminal offenses due to emotional damages.
4. Finally, if the situation is not resolved, or if physical threats are made, contact the nearest PNP police station in your area.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)