Staying safe....
Despite the fact that of course with FB swapping you have no control over who will see your penpal entries, it is a relatively safe hobby. Friends recommend other trusted friends to the hobby, and it is not a commonly known hobby, but in the 21st century a few words on safety are always recommended. Here are some ideas.
- If possible, use a PO Box instead of a street address, (many people don't bother, and remain fine, but if you want to keep your home or work address private, or out of public sight, it is worth considering)
- If someone writes to you and makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, you are under NO obligation to write back to them!
- Please avoid sending fbs etc to prisons. Even if you know and trust the person to whom you are sending the FB, please consider that others who are not so trustworthy (cellmates, etc) may gain access to the addresses in the fbs.
- This may seem obvious, but do NOT give things like your bank details to penpals. This note is made since the webmistress recently recieved an FB that someone had made out of some of thier blank personal cheques (with the name and address of thier bank, thier account number etc on it). Coupled with that was a letter asking to be penpals giving other private information! A fraudster would have died of delight!
-When posting penpal or fb swapping adverts on websites such as this one, please refrain from putting your postal address online! Remember that Google and other search engines explore the internet, and anyone could see the address. Instead put an email address and ask anyone interested to email you for further details. That way you can decide if you want to swap with them, and if you want to give them your swapping address.
- If someone contacts you through fb swapping etc, with threats, abuse, illegal offers, etc, report it to the police. Give them the letter if possible.
- If meeting someone you only know as a penpal, swapper or off the internet, remember the golden rules. Meet them in a busy public place, and make sure your friends and relatives know where you are going, and have a contact of who you are going to meet!
- Do not be intimidated into sending things to people like jewelry, gifts, money, etc, or taking people into your home. You may get the occasional unsolicited letter begging for goods, money or somewhere to stay, in which case ignore it, or if it suggests illegal activity, then report it to the relevant authorities.
- If possible, use a PO Box instead of a street address, (many people don't bother, and remain fine, but if you want to keep your home or work address private, or out of public sight, it is worth considering)
- If someone writes to you and makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, you are under NO obligation to write back to them!
- Please avoid sending fbs etc to prisons. Even if you know and trust the person to whom you are sending the FB, please consider that others who are not so trustworthy (cellmates, etc) may gain access to the addresses in the fbs.
- This may seem obvious, but do NOT give things like your bank details to penpals. This note is made since the webmistress recently recieved an FB that someone had made out of some of thier blank personal cheques (with the name and address of thier bank, thier account number etc on it). Coupled with that was a letter asking to be penpals giving other private information! A fraudster would have died of delight!
-When posting penpal or fb swapping adverts on websites such as this one, please refrain from putting your postal address online! Remember that Google and other search engines explore the internet, and anyone could see the address. Instead put an email address and ask anyone interested to email you for further details. That way you can decide if you want to swap with them, and if you want to give them your swapping address.
- If someone contacts you through fb swapping etc, with threats, abuse, illegal offers, etc, report it to the police. Give them the letter if possible.
- If meeting someone you only know as a penpal, swapper or off the internet, remember the golden rules. Meet them in a busy public place, and make sure your friends and relatives know where you are going, and have a contact of who you are going to meet!
- Do not be intimidated into sending things to people like jewelry, gifts, money, etc, or taking people into your home. You may get the occasional unsolicited letter begging for goods, money or somewhere to stay, in which case ignore it, or if it suggests illegal activity, then report it to the relevant authorities.