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How mistaken identity can lead to wrongful convictions

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hayley-cullen-423538">Hayley Cullen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> In March 1976, American Leonard Mack was convicted of sexual assault and holding two female victims at gunpoint. In September 2023, Mack’s wrongful conviction was finally overturned by a New York judge on his 72nd birthday with the help of the <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/news/hit-in-dna-database-proves-leonard-macks-innocence-after-47-years-of-wrongful-conviction/">Innocence Project</a>, an organisation that uses DNA evidence to prove factual innocence. Mack’s conviction took 47 years to overturn. He served seven-and-a-half of these years in a New York prison. His case is the <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/news/8-moving-moments-from-leonard-macks-historic-exoneration-after-47-years/">longest</a> in United States history to be overturned using DNA evidence. In June 2023, a similar historic moment occurred in Australia. Kathleen Folbigg was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/05/kathleen-folbigg-pardoned-after-20-years-in-jail-over-deaths-of-her-four-children">pardoned and released</a> after 20 years in prison for the murder and manslaughter of her four young children. Considered one of the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/folbigg-release-would-make-chamberlain-case-pale-into-insignificance-20230307-p5cpya.html">worst miscarriages of justice</a> in Australian history, Folbigg’s release has sparked discussion over whether Australia needs a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/12/not-a-rare-case-kathleen-folbigg-pardon-sparks-calls-for-new-body-to-review-possible-wrongful-convictions">formalised body</a> to deal with post-conviction appeals. Mack and Folbigg are only two individuals on different sides of the world who have spent decades fighting to prove their innocence. Many others are still fighting. The prevalence of wrongful convictions is hard to determine. The <a href="https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/about.aspx">National Registry of Exonerations</a> in the United States has recorded 3,396 exonerations nation-wide since 1989. But data on official exonerations fail to capture the many individuals whose convictions are yet to be overturned. Estimates of the prevalence of wrongful convictions in the United States range from <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/08874034221106747?casa_token=DL_gPkxNcI8AAAAA:uI-en9junmLXXScDGthXAuC9JcLsxp5OF1J4QB1WdA2L2cZRcwRuwtxVmIMiKYbYaSDj_ji4EdPSLA">0.5 to 5%</a>. The exact prevalence in Australia is less clear but we do know <a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/pdf/10.3316/informit.801706351305383?casa_token=cpZBfZmh944AAAAA%3Ax_zYUlnogLjuDWl81jc38vmeOovzw44M171rP7G3ibNnU35rvWS0yeIO_Ad0eBa54nE54KxaKzIb3w4">71 cases of wrongful convictions</a> have been identified in Australia between 1922 to 2015. Some have argued there could be <a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/pdf/10.3316/informit.308199161216493">350 convictions per year</a> of individuals who are factually innocent in Australia. A witness mistakenly identifying an innocent suspect is common in many wrongful conviction cases. Eyewitness misidentification is the leading contributing factor in wrongful convictions overturned by the <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/exonerations-data/">Innocence Project</a>, present in 64% of their successful cases. In Australia, <a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/pdf/10.3316/informit.801706351305383?casa_token=cpZBfZmh944AAAAA%3Ax_zYUlnogLjuDWl81jc38vmeOovzw44M171rP7G3ibNnU35rvWS0yeIO_Ad0eBa54nE54KxaKzIb3w4">6%</a> of recorded wrongful convictions involved an eyewitness error. This may be an underestimate given many applications to innocence initiatives in Australia alleging wrongful conviction, such as the <a href="https://bohii.net/">Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative</a>, report <a href="https://bohii.net/blog/positiononestablishingccrcas">eyewitness evidence</a> as a potential contributing factor. In Mack’s case, two victims misidentified him as the perpetrator. These identifications proved to be instrumental in his wrongful conviction. How did the two victims get it wrong? <h2>How problematic procedures influence eyewitnesses</h2> Eyewitness identification evidence relies on witnesses to accurately remember criminal perpetrators. Several factors affect eyewitness memory accuracy. Features of the crime can impact memory, such as whether it was light or dark, or whether the perpetrator wore a disguise. Memory can also be affected by characteristics of the witness at the time of the crime, such as their stress or intoxication levels. These factors are present at the time of the crime and cannot be changed. What is perhaps more crucial is that eyewitness memory can also be affected by the procedures law enforcement use to collect identification evidence. In <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/news/hit-in-dna-database-proves-leonard-macks-innocence-after-47-years-of-wrongful-conviction/">Mack’s case</a>, there were serious problems with the procedures used to get the identifications from the victims. One of the victims made three separate identifications of Mack. Witnesses should only complete one identification procedure for each suspect, because the first identification will bias future identification attempts. For two of the identifications the victim made, she was only shown Mack by himself surrounded by police. Showing a lone suspect without any other lineup members may <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-29406-3_2">increase mistaken identifications</a>, particularly when the context in which they are shown is highly suggestive. Seeing Mack in handcuffs and in the presence of police may have led the victim to identify him. Mack was the only person shown to the witness in these identification attempts, so the police officers organising the process knew he was the suspect. “Single-blind” administration of identification procedures – where the police officers organising the lineup know who the suspect is – increase the likelihood of <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-49224-002">mistaken identifications</a>. For the other identification this victim made, she picked Mack out of a photo lineup containing seven images. Mack’s photo was the only photo in the lineup that contained visible clothing and the year (1975) in the background. All members of a lineup must be matched and no one lineup member <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/lhb-lhb0000359.pdf">should stand out</a>, but Mack’s photo was distinct. With all these problematic practices combined, we can see how Mack was misidentified and convicted. In 2020, a team of eyewitness experts published <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/lhb-lhb0000359.pdf">nine evidence-based recommendations </a>for conducting identification procedures. These recommendations serve to reduce mistaken identifications and enhance accurate ones. The recommendations address the problematic practices in Mack’s case, but also include things like making sure there is sufficient evidence to place a suspect in a lineup, and giving appropriate instructions to witnesses during the procedure. Identification procedures should also be video recorded to identify any poor practices. While these recommendations will go a long way to reducing wrongful convictions resulting from faulty eyewitness identifications, they will only be effective if followed by police. The next step is ensuring these recommendations are embedded into everyday policing practice.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/214844/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hayley-cullen-423538">Hayley Cullen</a>, Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-mistaken-identity-can-lead-to-wrongful-convictions-214844">original article</a>.

Legal

Reality TV star welcomes identical twin girls

Reality TV star Dani Dyer has welcomed two baby girls with her partner, footballer Jarrod Bowen. The Love Island UK winner, who won the show in 2018 with her ex-partner Jack Fincham in 2018, shared the happy news on her Instagram on Thursday. Dani didn't reveal the identical twin girls' names, but confirmed the date of their birth, May 22nd, in the caption. Dani is already mum to Santiago, two, who she shares with with ex Sammy Kimmence. Her Love Island UK co-stars were quick to send their congratulations, with season one winner Cara De La Hoyde writing, "Congratulations Dan they are beautiful ❤️." "Congratulations to your beautiful family ❤️," Zara McDermott added, while season four winner Molly-Mae Hague added, "Congratulations beautiful 😭😭😭." Dani is the daughter of English actor and presenter Danny Dyer, who's well known for his role in British soap EastEnders. Dani shared the news of her pregnancy with a sweet announcement post, showing her son Santiago holding a letter board with the ultrasound pictures of her new babies. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnpWIihrD1x/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnpWIihrD1x/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by ♡ Dani Dyer ♡ (@danidyerxx)</a> </div> </blockquote> "We have been keeping a little secret... Our little TWINS!" she wrote. "So excited to meet our babies and watch Santi be the best big brother.. The biggest surprise of our lives but feeling SO blessed.. our family is getting a lot bigger and we can’t wait." Just weeks after announcing the pregnancy, Dani confirmed the gender of their babies in another Instagram post. "A lot of you have been asking on the gender of our babies and we are so excited to share with you all that we are having identical twin girls. Half way our little darlings." Image credits: Instagram

Family & Pets

Julia Faustyna takes DNA test to prove wild identity claims

Julia Faustyna, the Polish woman who is convinced she is the missing Madeleine McCann, has reportedly taken a DNA test to prove her claim. However, in a stunning twist to the tale, Faustyna’s private investigation with spokesperson Dr Fia Johansson has led the young woman to consider the possibility that she may actually be another missing child - Livia Schepp, who went missing with her twin sister in Switzerland in 2011. “I’ve spoken to her about this and she is open to the fact she could be any missing child out there,” Dr Johansson said while speaking to The Sun. “Not just Madeleine. Julia wants to know the truth about who she is.” While Faustyna’s main argument has involved the physical similarities between herself and Madeleine McCann, one of the pivotal points in her story is how she recognised a suspect from McCann’s case - a man she has named as her own abuser. “One of the reasons she made the connection to Madeleine is because one of the suspects in Madeleine’s case looks very much like a man who she says abused her as a child,” Dr Johansson explained. “But the same man could be connected to Madeleine and other missing children, this is how predators and traffickers work.” “Julia has taken a DNA test,” she confirmed, “and we are investigating if it’s possible to check her DNA with that of [the] missing Livia. We are investigating all possibilities at this stage.” Livia Schepp - and her twin sister Alessia - went missing when they were six, after their father abducted them from Switzerland in 2011. Days later, he took his own life in Italy, and when police discovered the body, the twins were nowhere to be seen. Faustyna, who claims to have post-traumatic amnesia due to sexual abuse in her childhood, lacks clear recollection of her formative years, and has stated while she can recall holidays, she doesn’t “recall my mother being there, for example, or my stepfather, much less my dad.” Whether or not any of Faustyna’s theories are true, the public will have to keep speculating, as no results have yet been shared. However, Faustyna’s viral “@iammadeleinemccan”, where she was sharing updates and side-by-side comparisons with her followers, has since been deleted from the platform. The removal coincides with reports of the DNA test, and after Faustyna closed both her Facebook and Tiktok accounts, disputing her parent’s claim that she was only in this for attention when she said “if you don’t like me, please unfollow. I don’t want fans or followers.” Images: Instagram, Twitter

News

How a new art project in Bathurst is embracing the many identities of the town

For many, Bathurst’s Mount Panorama is exclusively a car racing venue. For Indigenous Australians it is a place called Wahluu, where First Nations women once offered their sons for tribal initiation. It is a cherished Wiradyuri territory that hosts dreaming and creation stories. Earlier this year, further development on the site <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2021/05/03/wahluu-womens-site-be-protected-says-federal-environment-minister">was blocked</a>, with the federal government acknowledging the cultural significance of the location for the Wiradyuri people. In some respects, the conflicting identity of Bathurst’s mountain can be reconciled through the forms of masculinity it represents: the male-centric sport of car racing – so central to the town’s present-day image – and the rite of passage of young Aboriginal men into adulthood. Now, a new art project, <a href="https://kateofthesmiths.com.au/fast-cars-dirty-beats/">Fast Cars & Dirty Beats</a> is navigating these cultural differences by fostering a sense of community. Created by artistic director Kate Smith, Fast Cars & Dirty Beats embraces Mount Panorama’s/Wahluu’s dual identity that, for some, is representative of a cultural divide between black and white Australia. Smith’s vision is not culturally constrained, but rather expressive of a location that is complex and multicultural. Liaising with Bathurst Wiradyuri Elders, Smith and her artistic collaborators have developed a series of community-focused projects revolving around the cultural significance of Wahluu/Mount Panorama. One of these initiatives, Mountain Tales, was launched on the first of July as part of Bathurst’s Winter Festival. Mountain Tales is the culmination of a year-long community engagement connecting local schoolchildren, teachers and parents with skilled craftspeople and musicians, fashioning decorative lanterns and the cultivation of a drumming community. A lantern procession Although it was raining for the July launch, more than 300 locals formed a dramatic lantern procession on the cold winter’s night. I was swept up in the pageantry unravelling across the CBD, eventually settling at Bathurst’s historical <a href="https://tremainsmill.com/">Tremain’s Mill</a>. Here the community proudly displayed their beacons of light, paying homage to the Chinese presence in Bathurst since the 1800s. Supporting the procession, Rob Shannon’s drummers created a collective heartbeat, fostering a sense of joy and belonging. After this ceremony of light and sound, members of the community told stories about the significance of Mount Panorama/Wahluu. Yarns were shared concerning the mountain being a place where locals experienced a first kiss or participated in some youthful skylarking. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473106/original/file-20220707-22-kkwl50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A paper lantern in the shape of a car." /></a><figcaption>Cars are central to Australia’s image of Bathurst – but they’re not the whole story. Kate Smith</figcaption></figure> Wiradyuri Elder Wirribee Aunty Leanna Carr-Smith explained to the group how the area plays host to both women’s and men’s business. But such stories are only for the ears of Indigenous women and men. There is a secrecy about Wahluu. Some stories are off limits to white Australians. Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country The most breathtaking project launched at the Mountain Tales event is Aunty Leanna/Wirribee and Nicole Welch’s collaboration with Smith, <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/4hanss4771t8aim/SacredCountryV6_withAudio.mp4?dl=0">Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country</a>, a film emblazoned across Tremain’s Mill. The old mill precinct is a reminder of colonisation and its violence. For this occasion it operated as a backdrop through which Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians connected. Beaming the film’s panoramic landscapes across this built environment juxtaposed the two cultures. Considering the urgency of global warming, the film brings together drone footage of Wahluu/Mount Panorama and aerial photography of other Indigenous landscapes in the region. It is an ethereal perspective. The soundscape is as rich and textured as the landscape, conveying an extraordinary, yet fragile, beauty. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/473108/original/file-20220707-12-yw20iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=649&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Film still." /></a><figcaption>Projected onto the wall of Tremain’s Mill, Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country is a meeting of Indigenous landscapes with colonial Australian history. Kate Smith</figcaption></figure> Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country also explores shared understandings between First Nations and non-First Nations women. Their interracial connection is enacted through a seamless editing style that bridges the Tarana landscape to the Wahluu/Macquarie River, and then eventually to Wahluu/Mount Panorama. The film’s boundless landscapes evoke an all-embracing hospitality that traverses cultural differences. Sometimes the imagery creates vaginal shapes that feminises the country. The land and its creatures come across as alive and vibrant. Sky and earth are mirrored, inspiring our contemplation of eternity and the Indigenous custodianship of Country. Departing later that night, I pondered eternity. One lifetime is nothing compared to 65,000 years of Indigenous connection to Country. This awareness was both profound and comforting. But the night of collective celebration and storytelling also encouraged me, and no doubt others, to delight in life’s briefest moments. Wiradyuri Ngayirr Ngurambang – Sacred Country is playing at Tremain’s Mill, Bathurst, until July 17. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/185860/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/suzie-gibson-111690" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suzie Gibson</a>, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charles Sturt University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-a-new-art-project-in-bathurst-is-embracing-the-many-identities-of-the-town-185860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Kate Smith

Domestic Travel

Flight attendant caught using dead man’s identity for 20 years

A Brazilian flight attendant has been accused of stealing a dead boy’s identity and using it for more than 20 years. Ricardo Cesar Guedes, 49, who works as a flight attendant for United Airlines, has been accused of stealing the identity of William Ericson Ladd, an Atlanta boy who died in a car crash in Washington in 1979. He allegedly used it to apply for a passport in 1998, and has renewed the document six times since then. In addition, he has also been accused of using Ladd’s identity while getting married and taking out a mortgage in Houston. There is no record of him applying for US citizenship or naturalisation using the false identity. Investigators uncovered Mr Guedes’ real identity by comparing fingerprints he submitted for his Brazilian national identity document in the 1990s, and he was arrested at Houston Airport in September after entering a secure area for crew members. William Ladd’s mother Debra Lynn Hays confirmed to investigators last July that her son died in 1979, and she did not recognise the social security number issued to Mr Guedes in her son’s name some 17 years after his death. Mr Guedes has been charged with aggravated identity theft, making false statements on a passport application, and other counts. He allegedly worked on 40 flights for United Airlines in 2020 while using Ladd’s name, and remains detained pending trial. A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed his prior employment, but added that he was no longer employed by the company. Mr Guedes had no prior criminal record, and upon being presented with evidence of his fraud, reportedly told the arresting agents, “I had a dream, and the dream is over. Now I have to face reality.” Image: Eric Ladd/Twitter

Travel Trouble

Guess the age: Disbelief over identical mum and daughter

One woman is defying her age in a viral video on social media app, TikTok. Veronika Zolotova, 18, couldn’t help showing off to her followers her incredibly youthful mother, Tatochka Vselennaya. The pair, from Minsk, Belarus, shocked viewers with their near identical looks – with many not being able to tell who is older. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGmI88leol/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGmI88leol/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Татьяна (@tatochkavselennaya)</a> </div> </blockquote> In one clip of the duo, it is barely noticeable that there is 22 years between the pair. With 13.2 million followers on social media, Veronika who usually shares clips of herself, could not help but show off her youthful and glowing mum. However, despite the disbelief, the social media star brought her mother in front of the camera to show the 40-year-old woman is not her twin by testing out the “Under age of 25” test – where a high-pitched noise plays that only anyone under the age of 25 can be able to hear. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2bkCyGgqD7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2bkCyGgqD7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Татьяна (@tatochkavselennaya)</a> </div> </blockquote> As it happens, only Veronika claimed she could hear the sound, while her mother stood confused. However, Veronika’s fans continue to be in disbelief over the age of her mother. “Her mum literally just said copy and paste,” one person wrote. “Now I understand why you look so young, gurlssss you look like sisters,” another wrote. Tatochka is a YouTuber who shares with fans her love of knitting and sewing.

Beauty & Style

Archie and Meghan are identical!

The royal family has strong DNA in the gene pool, but Meghan and Archie are in a league of their own. New footage has revealed just how alike the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son is to his mother. Compared to an older photo of his mother pulled from the archives, it seems like shares her spirit and looks as well. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Archie been looking a lot like Meghan 😭💞 <a href="https://t.co/U8DeZUg94F">pic.twitter.com/U8DeZUg94F</a> — Julieth🌻 (@troubleshade) <a href="https://twitter.com/troubleshade/status/1396164452370747396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2021</a></blockquote> A picture shared on Twitter, which was a snapshot taken from Prince Harry's new Apple TV+ series with Oprah Winfrey, The Me You Can't See, shows little Archie playing happily on a swing set in the garden of the family's Montecito, California home. The caption reads, "Archie been looking a lot like Meghan," and she's definitely not wrong! Meghan Markle is currently in the last stages of her pregnancy, as Archie Harrison prepares to meet his little sister. The couple first announced they were expecting for a third time on Valentine's Day this year. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLSL_aqARfv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLSL_aqARfv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Misan Harriman (@misanharriman)</a> </div> </blockquote> The Duke and Duchess confirmed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that they were expecting a little girl, just a few months after Meghan revealed she had suffered a miscarriage. In Prince Harry's new TV show, the royal spoke honestly about the death of his mother, Princess Diana. He admitted that had tried using alcohol and drugs to cope with the emotional pain and trauma he subsequently experienced. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841431/archie.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2d9846aa4f6b43818f21d26daca74183" /> Between the ages of 28 to 32, Harry said: "I was just all over the place mentally. Every time I put a suit on and tie on, having to do the role and go 'right, game face' in the mirror... “Before I even left the house I was pouring with sweat. I was in fight or flight mode." On the topic of alcohol and drugs, the prince went on to say, "I was willing to drink, I was willing to take drugs, I was willing to try and do the things that made me feel less like I was feeling." Thankfully, with the help of therapy, Harry has revealed he came out of the traumatic experience a better, recovered man.

Family & Pets

Why some twins aren't identical

When a mother gives birth to twins, the offspring are not always identical or even the same gender. Known as fraternal twins, they represent a longstanding evolutionary puzzle. Identical twins arise from a single fertilised egg that accidentally splits in two, but fraternal twins arise when two eggs are released and fertilised. Why this would happen was the puzzle. In research <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-020-1173-y" title="An age-dependent ovulatory strategy explains the evolution of dizygotic twinning in humans">published in Nature Ecology & Evolution</a> we used computer simulations and modelling to try to explain why natural selection favours releasing two eggs, despite the low survival of twins and the risks of twin births for mothers. Why twins? Since Michael Bulmer’s landmark 1970 <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Biology_of_Twinning_in_Man.html?id=awo-AAAAYAAJ">book on the biology of twinning in humans</a>, biologists have questioned whether double ovulation was favoured by natural selection or, like identical twins, was the result of an accident. At first glance, this seems unlikely. The embryo splitting that produces identical twins is not heritable and the incidence of identical twinning does not vary with other aspects of human biology. It seems accidental in every sense of the word. In contrast, the incidence of fraternal twinning changes with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932000007896" title="Ethnic differences in twinning rates in Nigeria">maternal age</a> and is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14237-7" title="Twinning">heritable</a>. Those do not sound like the characteristics of something accidental. The twin disadvantage In human populations without access to medical care there seems little benefit to having twins. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1420-9101.2001.00287.x" title="The fitness of twin mothers: evidence from rural Gambia">Twins</a> are more likely to die in childhood than single births. Mothers of twins also have an increased risk of dying in childbirth. In common with other great apes, women seem to be built to give birth to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1990.tb05211.x" title="ON THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN BROOD SIZE">one child at a time</a>. So if twinning is costly, why has evolution not removed it? Paradoxically, in high-fertility populations, the mothers of twins often have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1420-9101.2001.00287.x" title="The fitness of twin mothers: evidence from rural Gambia">more offspring</a> by the end of their lives than other mothers. This suggests having twins might have an evolutionary benefit, at least for mothers. But, if this is the case, why are twins so rare? Modelling mothers To resolve these questions, together with colleagues Bob Black and Rick Smock, we <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1173-y" title="An age-dependent ovulatory strategy explains the evolution of dizygotic twinning in humans">constructed simulations and mathematical models</a> fed with data on maternal, child and fetal survival from real populations. This allowed us to do something otherwise impossible: control in the simulations and modelling whether women ovulated one or two eggs during their cycles. We also modelled different <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2007.09.002" title="The status of the conditional evolutionarily stable strategy">strategies</a>, where we switched women from ovulating one egg to ovulating two at different ages. We could then compare the number of surviving children for women with different patterns of ovulation. Women who switched from single to double ovulation in their mid-20s had the most children survive in our models – more than those who always released a single egg, or always released two eggs. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/333966/original/file-20200511-49558-4l8o82.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/333966/original/file-20200511-49558-4l8o82.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Author provided This suggests natural selection favours an unconscious switch from single to double ovulation with increasing age. A strategy for prolonging fertility The reason a switch is beneficial is fetal survival – the chance that a fertilised egg will result in a liveborn child – <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa3337" title="Common variants spanning PLK4 are associated with mitotic-origin aneuploidy in human embryos">decreases rapidly as women age</a> So switching to releasing two eggs increases the chance at least one will result in a successful birth. But what about twinning? Is it a side effect of selection favouring fertility in older women? To answer this question, we ran the simulations again, except now when women double ovulated the simulation removed one offspring before birth. In these simulations, women who double ovulated throughout their lives, but never gave birth to twins, had more children survive than those who did have twins and switched from single to double ovulating. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/333982/original/file-20200511-49558-d6tomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/333982/original/file-20200511-49558-d6tomg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Author provided This suggests the ideal strategy would be to always double ovulate but never produce twins, so fraternal twins are an accidental side effect of a beneficial strategy of double ovulating.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/138209/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-l-tomkins-311105">Joseph L Tomkins</a>, Associate Professor in Evolutionary Biology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-western-australia-1067">University of Western Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-sear-1067265">Rebecca Sear</a>, Head of the Department of Population Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/london-school-of-hygiene-and-tropical-medicine-859">London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wade-hazel-1067264">Wade Hazel</a>, Professor of Biology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/depauw-university-1274">DePauw University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/not-all-twins-are-identical-and-thats-been-an-evolutionary-puzzle-until-now-138209">original article</a>.

Body

Identity of coronavirus "superspreader" revealed

The British man who is believed to be a “superspreader” of coronavirus has been identified as businessman Steve Walsh. The 53-year-old was diagnosed with the disease on 6 February after he contracted the virus in Singapore while attending a business conference before heading off to the French Alps for a ski holiday, then returning to the UK. It is believed that he infected 11 other Britons with the virus. Currently Mr Walsh is in quarantine at St Thomas hospital, where he released a statement: “I would like to thank the NHS for their help and care – whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus. “As soon as I knew I had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus I contacted my GP, NHS 111 and Public Health England. “I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed. “When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves. “I also thank friends, family and colleagues for their support during recent weeks and I ask the media to respect our privacy.” His company, Servomex has also released a statement, saying: “We are very pleased that Steve Walsh has made a full recovery. We continue to provide support to him and his family. “We are working with Public Health authorities to ensure the welfare of our staff and communities and wish anyone with the virus a quick and full recovery.”

Travel Trouble

5 ways to protect yourself from identity theft

It’s hard to guarantee total protection against hackers and with more people losing money to scammers, it’s important to do your best to stay vigilant. Recent Scamwatch figures show that in 2019, Aussies lost $4.3 million to scammers, which is almost three times more than was lost the year before. With scams becoming more sophisticated, the onus is on you to stop your money from being stolen. Here are five ways to protect yourself from identity theft. (AN: will number later, just hate doing it in a word doc as it doesn’t copy properly to umbraco) 1. Always check your emails In order to get into your accounts, a hacker will try many different passwords or sometimes reset it. If you see a password reset email and you can’t remember requesting one, this can be a major red flag. 2. Set up two-factor authentication This is a two-step process that you can add to your account login. This increases security on your account as it requires a different piece of information outside your password. It is usually a temporary code which is sent as a text message to your phone. How does it work? After you enter your password, you’ll be asked to enter in the code that has been sent to your phone. Some websites have a time limit on the code so if you don’t enter it before the time limit expires, the code will no longer work. This also means that if hackers gain access to your password, they won’t receive the temporary code and won’t be able to get into your account. 3. Consider a PO box Having an outdoor mailbox makes you more vulnerable to identity theft as anyone can help themselves to the personal documents that are sent to your home. Your mail provides information like your full name, bank account details, tax file number and your address. Hackers can also steal bank cards if they’re sent to your home address. If you decide to get a PO box, your mail will be kept in a secure place under lock and key. However, if you don’t want to get a PO box, you can request to send personal documents and bank cards to a secure location. 4. Monitor your credit report Every time you apply for a loan or a credit card, it’s listed on your credit report. You are able to check your credit for free every few months to make sure all listing are correct. If you notice any suspicious activity, contact the relevant bank or lender and let them know that the listing is fraudulent. 5. Check your transaction history Review your purchases every couple of weeks to make sure there aren’t any suspicious transactions. If you notice any transactions that aren’t yours, put your card on hold and contact your bank immediately. You may also need to cancel your existing card and order a replacement.

Money & Banking

The identity of baby Archie's godmother has finally been revealed

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been determined to do things differently since the beginning of their marriage, and that includes keeping their four-month-old Archie as far away from the public eye as possible. However, despite their best efforts, they can’t seem to beat the nosy public, as a royal correspondent has figured out Archie’s godmother. The godparents of Archie were another detail that was kept private, but a royal correspondent says she figured out who was Archie’s godmother at the launch of the mother-of-one's clothing line for Smart Works in September. "I was there at the launch and spotted in the audience Isabel May," Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight. "Who is in fact Archie's Godmother although that's been kept very, very quiet. "She's a great friend of the Duchess' and of course she would have known all about this launch," she continued. A source told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7460293/Is-Isabel-Archies-godmother.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a> that they keep their relationship “very quiet”. "Izzy is one of Meghan's closest and dearest friends and she values her friendship so very much," they said. "She helped Meghan adjust to life in London when she moved here, and Meghan relied on her a lot. They totally support each other and, like any other female friends, enjoy social activities together." Scroll through the gallery to see Archie’s godmother as well as pictures of baby Archie.

News

5 ways thieves steal your identity

Thieves are getting more and more crafty by the day. Keep an eye out! Here are some ways they are able to steal your identity. 1. Watch your back In line at the grocery store, some thieves hold their smartphone like they are looking at the screen and take a photograph of your credit card as you’re using it. Next thing you know they can order things online with your account. 2. Watch your bank account Check your bank and credit card balances at least once a week. Identity thieves can do a lot of damage in the 30 days between monthly statements. 3. Check out ATMs before you use them If you see something that looks like it doesn’t belong on the ATM or sticks out from the card slot, walk away. Thieves can make and install a 'skimmer' that can be used to capture your ATM card information and PIN. 4. Don't use unsecured Wi-Fi Sure, it may be nice not to have to put in your password when you use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection, but thieves have software that can scoop up all the data your computer transmits, including your passwords and other sensitive information. 5. Tear up important documents before you throw them away <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> Thieves will drive through your neighbourhood at 3 a.m. on garbage day in order to fill their boot with bags of garbage from different houses, and then sort through it later looking for important information. Written by Michelle Crouch. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/tips/11-ways-thieves-steal-your-identity">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Technology

How to safeguard your identity online

With almost everyone in the country now using a computer, there are important precautions you need to take to ensure you stay cyber-safe. According to the Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report, in 2014, 384 million identities were stolen worldwide when thieves hacked trusted institutions online. Statistics from the Australian Federal Police show that thousands of Australian devices are infected with the malware responsible for this identity theft and other malicious malware every day. What do cybercriminals do with your identity? With your personal details, cybercriminals can steal your money, but also apply for new bank accounts and credit cards in your name and rack up debts. How do I know if my identity has been stolen? Victims often see suspicious transactions in their accounts, receive unknown or unsolicited letters or bills in their names, or are rejected when applying for loans or other financial applications. Can you recover your identity and money? Often your identity can be very difficult to recover. You can report it to <a href="http://www.idcare.org/">iDcare</a>, Australia and New Zealand's National Identity Support Service, who assist consumers when they believe their personal information has been compromised or misused. You can fill out an online Support Request Form <a href="https://idcare.knackhq.com/clientlog#supportrequestform/">here</a> for free and anonymous support. Your bank can reimburse stolen money to you after an investigation finds you not at fault. But you can be proactive and reduce the threat to your family by following a few simple precautions. Follow these tips to help protect your online identity <ol> <li> Don’t respond to unknown communications Scammers frequently ‘phish’ for your information by sending you emails containing malicious attachments or links that often direct you to fraudulent websites. As a general rule, don’t respond to unknown emails, links, attachments or reply to unknown messages or calls. These same rules apply to mobile phones, tablets and laptops too, which cybercriminals are increasingly targeting.</li> <li> Practise safe online banking Avoid using Internet banking at unsecured wireless hotposts and in Internet cafes where your activities may be monitored. If you regularly use free wifi, install an app such as <a href="http://au.norton.com/wifi-privacy">Norton WiFi Privacy</a>on your mobile device, to protect your passwords and credit card numbers while surfing public hot-spots. If you need to make payments online for goods bought on websites, always ensure you use trusted online payment websites.</li> </ol> When purchasing from an online store, make sure they use trusted and secure ways of payment <ol start="3"> <li> Monitor your bank accounts Monitor your bank accounts for unauthorised transactions. Another good way to check if you have been a victim of financial fraud is to get a credit report to check on your credit rating.</li> <li> Be careful what information you reveal on social media Never share your birth date, phone numbers, where you live, your tax file number or any other financial information on social media, and set your security settings to high. ”People don’t know just how much information cybercriminals can gather. You may have removed your birth date from your Facebook profile but your contacts may still post happy birthday messages on your personal page that cybercriminals can then use to steal your identity,” says Nick Savvides, Security Strategist for Asia Pacific and Japan at Symantec, the makers of Norton security products.</li> <li> Beware of sending personal details to online job or rental advertisements Do some research into the company or organisation that you may be applying to before sending any personal information or documents electronically. Bogus employment and rental websites are often used to capture personal information. “The scammers can create websites that are almost exact replicas of companies,” cautions Savvides.</li> <li> Only download from trusted websites and beware anything free Steer clear of websites offering free games, music or software downloads. “About 80 per cent of those apps are actually legitimate apps that have been bundled with malware that people then download and install,” says Savvides.</li> <li> Install a comprehensive security solution for firewall and anti-malware protection Malware like trojans and viruses are commonly used to gain access to your computer and devices and steal personal information. Some malware allows keylogging where cybercriminals can see everything you type, even your passwords.</li> </ol> A comprehensive protection against different kinds of malware for both your computer and mobile devices is <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=TKAopWYXsko&offerid=453594.36&type=3&subid=0">Norton Security Premium</a>. This software includes firewall protection that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic for any malicious malware. It also includes antispyware protection that monitors your computer or device for anyone that might be spying on your files. How do you keep your identity safe online? Let us know in the comments. Written by Dominic Bayley. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/wyza-life/how-to-safeguard-your-identity-online.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Technology

How to check if your Facebook account has been hacked

Between September 14-27, 30 million Facebook accounts were hacked, and now the social media juggernaut has unveiled a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/help/securitynotice?ref=sec" target="_blank">website</a> that will help you determine if your account has been compromised. “We're very sorry this happened,” it said of the incident. “Your privacy is incredibly important to us, and we want to update you on what we've learned from our ongoing investigation, including which Facebook accounts are impacted, what information was accessed and what Facebook users can do about this.” Facebook has made a move to assure its users, which according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/" target="_blank">Statista</a> amount to over 2.2 billion monthly active users worldwide, that sensitive information like passwords and financial information were not accessed by hackers. “There's no need for anyone to change their passwords,” said the company. But other information was hacked, reported <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/can-check-facebook-account-hacked-042356675.html" target="_blank">7News</a>, such as phone numbers and email addresses, and in the case of 14 million accounts, the type of information that you can see on your friends’ accounts such as location, birthdate and relationship status. You can find out simply if your Facebook account has been hacked. On the Facebook advice website, scroll about halfway down to the question, “Is my Facebook account impacted by this security issue?” and you’ll have a notification there, specific to your account, if you have been affected. <img style="width: 500px; height: 123.021px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821357/facebook-notice.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/94961eb42d334a35a773be434fdab00b" /> You’ll also be provided with account-specific information if you are logged in to Facebook. One expert argues that in light of the hacks, Facebook should be offering users free “credit monitoring” in case sensitive financial information may be accessed. “Those personal details could very easily be used for identity theft to sign up for credit cards, get a loan, get your banking password, et cetera,” said Patrick Moorhead, founder of Moor Insights & Strategy. “Facebook should provide all those customers free credit monitoring to make sure the damage is minimised.” Facebook has declined to say where the effected users are located, only saying the breaches were “fairly broad”. The company says it will contact those account holders who have been hacked. According Facebook, the hacks are currently being investigated by the FBI, but the Bureau requested it didn’t discuss the culprits behind it. You can find more information at the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/help/securitynotice?ref=sec" target="_blank">Facebook advice site</a>. Did you find the Facebook advice helpful? Let us know in the comments below.

Technology

Meet the identical twins marrying identical twins

Although they already look, talk and act the same, American identical twins Briana and Brittany Deane have decided to make their bond even closer by marrying another set of identical twins and having husbands who look the same. The blonde twins met their fiancés at a twins festival six months ago in Twinsburg, Ohio, and fell in love instantly. “I think it was a sort of double love at first sight moment for all of us,” Brittany revealed on UK TV show This Morning. <img width="500" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7815823/1_500x280.jpg" alt="1 (92)"/> Brittany, who is in a relationship with Josh, said after the first few moments chatting they knew it was meant to be. Brittany explained that there was no difficulty deciding which twin should be paired with who because it just happened naturally. “It was really funny because without meaning to, we actually paired off by birth order, so immediately Josh and I locked eyes and were drawn to each other and started talking,” said Brittany. “Simultaneously Briana and Jeremy were drawn to each other instantly.” The boys proposed at the same time last month and in August, the four will share a double wedding. The girls thought they were filming an ad for their upcoming documentary with US TV show Inside Edition, when Josh and Jeremy shocked them by each dropping down to one knee to pop the big question. Marrying twins has been something all four have always dreamed about and now, it will turn into a reality. "We kind of always knew that we were never getting married unless it was to twins,” Josh told The News Journal.

Family & Pets

Celebrity kids who look identical to their parents when they were young

We get it, kids looking like their parents is nothing new – after all, they share 50 per cent of their DNA with each one! But sometimes, their likeness is so uncanny, we can’t help but do a double take. In some of the pictures you’re about to see courtesy of <a href="https://www.boredpanda.com/celebrity-parents-at-same-age/" target="_blank">Bored Panda</a>, it’s hard to tell who’s who! Scroll through the gallery above to see 12 kids who are the spitting images of their famous parents and tell us in the comments below, which pair do you think look the most alike?

Family & Pets

Celeb kids who look identical to their famous parents

Part of the fun when a new bub comes along is that good old-fashioned game of picking which parent they most resemble. For some kids, it’s hard to choose who they most look like, but for others, the resemblance is almost scary. Flick through our gallery of celebrity parent-child doppelgangers above and tell us in the comments, which famous duo do you think look the most alike?

Family & Pets

Expert tips to keep kids safe online

Internet safety expert John Parsons says tackling the dangers teenagers face online means giving them control over their digital identities. He tells Adele Redmond how children can learn those skills. John Parsons says some children as young as six are players of the game Grand Theft Auto. Often their favourite part of the R-18 video game was shooting women. "Women can be sexually violated, people can be tortured. If you are a parent and know your child is playing that, that's a failure," Parsons said. "My concern is children playing this game at that age won't grow up with compassion. "If they have compassion, if you raise them to understand how valuable they are as individuals, it doesn't matter what technology is presented." In the last three years Parsons, an internet safety expert, has seen 40,000 people in community and professional-based workshops. He said efforts to prevent "sexting" and "sextortion" – where teens were blackmailed for money to keep indecent images or information about themselves private – must be "values first". Parents had a responsibility towards "ethical modelling" which taught young people to support victims and value their own identity, he said. One of the barriers young people had talking to mum and dad when things go wrong, was sometimes their parents overreact because they are concerned and worried, Parsons said. This overreaction could lead some young people not coming forward in the future and talking to their parents when things go wrong. "Nurturing open lines of communication with children is very important." Instructing children to avoid their scandalised peers was equally harmful. "What they are teaching their own child to do, is not care". Trying to protect children by sheltering them from online communication would not work, he said. The relationship today's youth have with privacy can not and shouldn't be compared to the 1980s. Children now grow up in a world where photos of them are taken and disseminated often without their approval. "What we should be doing is having a conversation when we take the picture. Asking them; 'Do you like the picture, is it OK?'. The sooner we give them a sense of ownership and authority over their own identity the sooner they will become empowered to protect themselves." In fact, stop posting photos of your kids on Facebook without their permission. Doing so teaches them that their image is not theirs to own and control – a dangerous precedent when it comes to online paedophiles, Parsons said. Instead, take photos of your child and ask them which ones they want to delete. No more baby-in-the-bathtub shots. Allowing your child to create social media accounts before they're legally able can be detrimental as well. "Many 10 or 11-year-olds make themselves 14. We have modelled that you can lie and that your date of birth isn't important. What's our excuse when a 15-year-old lies to get into a pub?" Communicating online requires that young people strip out personal information and are mindful of the kind of images that they post. "The first thing I would say is don't create this content that can be used against you. If you do find yourself in a situation where you have been threatened or abused online cease communication immediately. Then you have taken control of the situation immediately. "Take screen shots and gather as much information as you can and take that to the police if it is serious or to a parent. But never tolerate or accept people treating you without respect. There is always someone that can help you." Parsons accepted that modelling safe online practices could be difficult for parents who grew up without that technology. But the care and protection given to children in 3-D space shouldn't be absent from the digital realm, he said "The biggest change is going to come from what we model to our children every day. It's a lifelong journey and it starts with that modelling. It's raising a child to know that they need to control their identity for themselves. To raise them to have compassion and empathy for others and to support their friends when things go wrong." John's quick tips for safe kids <ul> <li>Become your child's friend on any social media network</li> <li>Teach them to seek permission before sharing images of family and friends</li> <li>Ask about your child's friends and social life as a way to reduce 'cyber-separation'</li> <li>Maintain open lines of communication and don't overreact if something angers you</li> <li>Familiarise yourself with online games your children play</li> </ul> Written by Adele Redmond. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2017/01/superstar-grandmas-picture-book-defying-old-stereotypes/">“Superstar Grandmas” children’s book defying old stereotypes</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2017/01/the-new-grandparenting-handbook/">The new grandparenting handbook</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2017/01/hilarious-video-of-grandparents-worrying-about-their-granddaughter/">Hilarious video of grandparents worrying about their granddaughter</a>

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