Safety on Forums

Free Stuff Forums. They are really great to stumble across. You can really get a lot of good stuff through these sites. You also can end up with some real crap. One big issue I have noticed, is that WAY to many people haven't got the slightest idea of how these forums work. The list owner usually has a link in the listing that you click on to be taken to the site offering the free item. I have seen too many people post personal information on these sites. They will find a forum with a listing of hundreds of "Freebies" and rather than click the link provided, they will reply saying:

I would really like 'such and such'!
Please send it to
Jane Doe
123 E. Lane Rd.
Some City, Any State, 12345

And then sometimes they will even list a phone number. Oh my. Do they have any idea the trouble they may have set themselves up for? There are all types of people out there. Not all are nice. Some, I would even say, fall into the category of evil. There are opportunists who will prey on someone like that.

Lets say the list owner posts a freebie for a toddler's toy. Now, Jane Doe is browsing the Internet. She finds this forum, and now she posts her name and address to this list in the mistaken thought that the list owner sends out these items, rather than clicking through the provided link to be taken to, we'll say Gerber's site just for arguments sake. Now, later that night, a pedophile is browsing the 'net. In his searching, he stumbles on Jane Doe's post. Now he knows Jane Doe has a toddler, yum, right up Mr. Pedophiles alley, and Oh Joy! He also knows where she lives with said toddler! Could things be more perfectly set up for our pedophile neighbor?

People let too many opportunities go where something bad can happen to themselves or someone they love or care for. Posting personally identifiable information on the Internet is never a good thing in a forum like that. You might as well post your name, address, and phone number on a billboard along with information about your family.

The same type of thing can happen with a college student looking for some odd little freebie like sanitary pads, razors, or perfume. They post their name and address, stating what college campus or dorm they are in. It is relatively easy to find someone on a college campus. Especially when you have their name and know which building they reside in.

This is a scary issue. Please people, be 'Net wise. Do NOT post your personal information in a forum. Ever. It just is not safe. And if you have children old enough to post in sites like that, make sure they are aware of the dangers of putting themselves out there like that.