Goddard warns residents about Internet predators, identity theft

By Diane Saunders, Staff Writer
Published on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 11:22 AM MST

There is a 100 percent probability that a child who uses the Internet has been approached by an online predator, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said.

“They (children) know about stranger danger in person,” but many do not appear to grasp the danger on the Internet, Goddard said to a group of about 20 people at the Graham County Historical Society Museum in Thatcher on April 4.

Goddard was in Graham County to speak at the annual Meth Awareness Conference. In addition to the museum, he visited the Graham County Senior Citizens Center and the Mt. Graham Safe House. At the museum, Goddard, a Democrat, was greeted by Democrats and elected officials from Graham and Greenlee counties.

He said 167 million kids have their information posted on MySpace.com

“The predators appreciate it,” Goddard said.

The Attorney General touched on several topics, including the methamphetamine epidemic, abuse of the elderly and illegal immigration.

At the Senior Center, Goddard talked about fraud and identity theft.

“We work in consumer protection issues. It’s part of our mandate,” Goddard told a group of about 15 seniors.

He said his office takes crimes against the elderly seriously. Elder abuse is under-reported because the abuser is often a family member.

He also told the seniors to keep their personal information safe from identity thieves by either destroying documents or keeping them in a safe place.

“Destroy, destroy, destroy. I hate to promote a product, but buy a shredder,” he said regarding the disposal of old documents.

He also announced the opening of an Attorney General’s office satellite center in Safford. It will be aimed at helping victims of scams. He asked that seniors volunteer for training so they can staff the center.

Goddard also encouraged seniors to obtain the one free credit report per year that they are entitled to receive. These reports will help seniors find out if they are victims of identity theft.

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Comments

9 comment(s)

CJ BELL wrote on Oct 23, 2009 8:36 PM:

" if you want to know the truth just ask me. yes i went to R.R.M.C. in 2007. i am 16 now and i remember every detail that happened there. yes i am sure that some of your claims are true no doubt but the thing is that i had the best month of my life at that camp and i would not trade it for anything. if anything this camp trained me to be mentally and physicaly prepared for my future life and i greatly thank Jeremy for that. PLEASE contact me if you have any questions about camp! "

shawn wrote on Oct 5, 2008 2:49 PM:

" trust me if you want your kid to be scared for life send him or if you dont love him denton is a lying sicopatick crazy guy who the military screwed up "

marley wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:11 AM:

" WHAT ARE U GUYS TALKING ABOUT WERE TALKIN ABOUT MORENCI MINE COMPANY AND U GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME CAMP YOU SENT UR KIDS TO OR WENT TO? "

concerned parent wrote on Aug 29, 2008 9:28 PM:

" If you really want to get mad about Denton's dishonesty, take a look at his website touting his honesty:
http://www.jeremynegotiates.com/contact.php and how he cuts down other real estate agents in the "shame" page. Maybe complaints to AZ Dept Real Estate would help. "

Louis Womack wrote on Jun 26, 2008 12:21 PM:

" Same here. Our son was to attend on June 21, 2008. Camp cancelled and we are out $2900.00. If you have any info or suggestions pleae contact us. Mr. Denton is employed at Signature Realy Group in Tempe. I did make contact with him there. No luck or even a promise of when we would see a refund. This was a planned rip-off. IMHO "

shawn wrote on Jun 10, 2008 8:48 PM:

" I actually went to this camp and I can tell you one thing most of the counselors were Indians plus we had one that was crazy and got kicked out of the army we also had a guy who shot a kid with a paintball gun without a mask in the head and they all did drugs at night you could smell it and it wasn't the legal kind and everything they promise was a lie hey a kid almost drowned with the storm and another almost bitten by a rattle snake. if you want to know more shawn-007@hotmail.com "

Steve Harrop wrote on Jun 10, 2008 12:26 PM:

" My son was signed up to attend the Aug. 2007 session and one week before camp it was washed out. In Sept. 07 we were told by J. Denton we would get a refund of $3800 within 90 days. No contact since then. As we live in Washington state we don't have any means of getting our money returned. How many other families are in this situation? Is there anything else we can do?

Steve Harrop
Winthrop, WA "

Robyn Pomonis wrote on May 7, 2008 10:31 AM:

" I too am still waiting for a refund of $3800.00. After months of not hearing from them via phone or email, Jeremy Denton called me in November and promised me a refund "by the end of the year". I haven't heard a word from them since, nor have they responded to certified letters nor contact by the BBB. "

Elissa S. Stewart wrote on Nov 28, 2007 2:38 PM:

" My son was supposed to attend the cancelled Operation Noble Eagle on July 29, 2007. I am still waiting for a refund of the $3800 I paid in tuition on November 28, 2007. Jeremy Denton will not commit to a refund date, although he originally assured me I would have one within 90 days. I can provide copies of the emails I have sent and received trying to obtain a refund, and proof of the $3800 I paid ($500 on my credit card for a deposit, and $3300 in the form of a check). "

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