PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST FRAUD AND CYBER CRIMES

Fraud can happen to anyone, anywhere and anytime. Have you received a few fraudulent emails, ambiguous phone calls, encountered fake online ads, questionable posts on social networking sites? Although fraud comes in many forms, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself from the crime and avoid becoming a victim! 

 

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KEEPING YOUR SANITY

One thing I’ve realised as I have gotten older, is that in life is that controlling emotions is not as easy  to do all the time and no matter how 'in control' you think you are...we all lose it at times.  I have also come to accept that the point of life is not to go through it unscathed, but to go through with as about much dignity and grace as you can, given the circumstances you are faced with. 

As difficult as it can sometimes be I have found a few tips which can help us  protect your 'sanity' as we deal with life's daily struggles.

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GENERAL SAFETY TIPS PARENTS SHOULD TEACH CHILDREN

Are you constantly worried about your child’s safety? Do you feel it is important to lay down a few safety guidelines for your child both inside and outside the house?

If you are wondering just how to go about it, hopefully the information we share here will help you. Keeping your child safe at all times means constant adult supervision. It also means implementing a few important changes and rules that ensure your child’s well-being. 

Read on to know how you can teach safety rules for children.

As a parent you may want to always be present near your child. But this is not possible. You have to let your kid venture out without you. There are places where your child will meet others in your absence, for example, at school. Your child may also need to be at the day care or at home with a nanny. Also, it is important to prepare your child for basic safety steps in the event of an emergency.

Here we list out 9 children safety rules that will help in ensuring safety at school and home:

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SAFETY TIPS - BE VIGILANT OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS -

We sometimes are so caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we neglect to pay attention to our environment. This can have serious implications for us. 

We tend to believe that "Nothing will happen,"....until it happens!

Here is a list of measures which we all should take into account as we go about our regular routines. I am sure you all already know some of them so consider the list a gentle reminder. 

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LIST OF EMERGENCY NUMBER IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

POLICE……………………………………………..999

FIRE………………………………………………...990

AMBULANCE……………………………………..990

EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICE………………653-4343

COUVA DISTRICT HOSPITAL………..................636-4024

DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE……………………...6411

Private Emergency Health Care..............1-868-758-9473

WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence refers to physical violence that emanates from domestic abuse. Domestic abuse occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dictate over and control the other person. This is also known as spousal abuse.

Domestic violence and abuse are typically used by someone when they want to gain and sustain control over all aspects of their partner's life. Achieving this could mean using fear, shame, guilt, and intimidation tactics to establish their dominance over their partner. The abuser may also go the extent of making threats and harming people.

The common notion surrounding domestic violence is that only women become victims of it. However, it isn't limited to a particular population. As per the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition Against Domestic Violence, "1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of [some form of] physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime." Further, it has also been reported that, "1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime."

While women are more prone to becoming victims, men are also abused. The abuse may not necessarily be physical, but also be verbal or emotional. Domestic violence can occur irrespective of age, ethnicity, and economic status. It can happen among heterosexual as well as in homosexual couples.

Whatever the case may be, abusive behavior should not be tolerated. It is important that the victim gets help and feels safe and respected. Recognizing abuse is the foremost step towards this.

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PART 2 GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS TO HELP KIDS WITH BULLYING (CYBER BULLYING)

Parents, it is important that our kids are aware of the following by sharing it with them and helping them understand it. In this modern era, the internet, computers, and mobile phones are common ways of networking and having access to each other. But this also comes with a very serious threat. Bullies these days use the computers, internet and phones to:

•  Send threats, taunting or teasing e-mails to you.
•  Spread gossip or rumors.
•  Impersonate (pretending to be someone) online to get you to e-mail things that will embarrass you or put people in trouble.
•  Texting hurtful or rude comments to someone’s phone.

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PART 1. GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS TO HELP KIDS WITH BULLYING…

More than 50% of youths bullied fail to report it to an adult. As parents and guardians, we play a critical role in ensuring that schools and communities are safe and fair for our children. This means helping the child to identify, reject, report or help another person being bullied is as important as training your child not to bully others.

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INTERNET SAFETY TIPS…teach your kids how to safeguard themselves

Do you spend a lot of time surfing the web? If you do, you need to be wary of things that lurk on the dark side of the Internet. Not only are there viruses, hackers and spammers but also online predators and a bunch of evildoers who are waiting to pounce on individuals especially teens in the digital world. You have probably heard of someone’s computer being hacked, his or her identity being stolen online, or even having some embarrassing pictures posted online.

“Nah, it can’t happen to me,” you think. Well, if you use the following Internet safety tips, you have a good chance of being right.

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PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST VOYEURISM..

Voyeurism consists of spying on people with indecent intent while they are engaged in what are considered private activities, such as undressing or going to the bathroom. Thanks to technology anyone can snap a picture or a video of someone else without their knowledge. Millions of women and children are finding themselves victims of voyeurs. In fact, thousands of photographs are being posted online without their consent.

In Trinidad and Tobago, there are no laws against voyeurism. Sometime recently, a “peeping tom” was caught at a popular Woodbrook bar lurking and taking photographs of women as they used the toilet. After a few women noticed him, he tried to escape but was caught by patrons who handed him over to the police. The police however could not charge him because under the sexual offences act, he didn’t utter sexual explicit statements to the women, physically touch them, or pleasure himself whilst looking at them.

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