Chat And Identity Theft

A few people have expressed concerns about chat and identity theft. This post contains some advice and some suggested resources for more information.

Imagine this scenario: If someone spent a few weeks in a chat room and wrote down every single thing that you said in that chat room, how much would they know about you? Have you revealed your place of work? Your telephone number? Your street address? What have you said in private chats that you might not want the entire world to know?

The fact is, anything you type in a chat room can be seen by whoever is in that chat room with you–and they may repeat this information to anyone else, until the end of time–so you must always pay careful attention to what you type and never give out vital personal information, such as your telephone or cell phone numbers, your passwords, your banking details, your Social Security number, etc. 

If you feel that your real-life identity has been compromised and that someone is using your personal information to commit crimes, there are resources online to turn to for help. See the FTC's ID Theft: Facts for Consumers for details on identity theft and actions you can take to re-secure your identity.

Please remember: It is absolutely vital that everyone use good judgment when using a chat room–any chat room, on any website. Have fun and socialize, but always err on the side of caution and common sense.