(WASHINGTON)-- The U.S. Army Military District of Washington's Army Air Operations Group hosted a professional development forum at the National Defense University, November 14, 2013.
Several members from the FBI Washington Field Office spoke to the audience about identity theft, cyber security and how to protect ones child against crime.
"You can do everything you can to prevent identity theft and still be a victim," said Special Agent Patrick J. Gallop, FBI Washington Field Office. "The internet is a wealth of information for the bad guys."
Gallop spoke about the four types of identity theft: criminal, medical, financial and identity cloning and he reminded those in attendance that "identity theft can happen to anyone."
In addition to the briefing on identity theft, there was a briefing about the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
"We enjoy the conveniences of the internet," said Special Agent Herb Stapleton of the FBI Cyber Division. "The way we conduct ourselves on line is a lot like leaving your front door open."
The IC3 was established as a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center to serve as a means to receive Internet related criminal complaints and to further research, develop, and refer the criminal complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement and/or regulatory agencies for investigation.
"The two biggest vulnerabilities we have as a society is social media and smart-phones," said Stapleton. He also advised the attendees, "When in doubt, don't click on it."
Special Agent Scott McMillion from the FBI's Violent Crimes Against Children Section spoke about threats to children and ways to protect them from predators.
"Everybody has three lives: public life, private life, and secret life," said McMillion. "The secret life is in that seven pounds of matter between your ears."
The FBI's Violent Crimes Against Children Section use multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams to investigate and prosecute crimes that cross legal, geographical, and jurisdictional boundaries.
Their mission is threefold: first, to decrease the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation; second, to develop a nationwide capacity to provide a rapid, effective, and measured investigative response to crimes against children; and third, to enhance the capabilities of state and local law enforcement investigators through programs, investigative assistance, and task force operations.
"AAOG hosted the event to provide more overall education about cyber threats and internet fraud," said Captain Robert J. Bickford, one of the event's organizers. "I learned a lot, their specific examples were very helpful."
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U.S. Army Air Operations Group
U.S. Army Military District of Washington
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