More on Identity Theft

Credit Card fraud is a huge worldwide phenomenon and has been since plastic money was created. It can be perpetrated on-line and in the real world. We’re talking about billions of dollars in stolen funds all around the globe and it can, and has, happened to people without them realising until it is much too late.

The ease at which a criminal can steal your identity and money out from under you has made identity theft one of the crimes people all around the world are most concerned about.
Protecting Yourself Can be Easy

Many people are purchasing ways to protect themselves from criminals who see credit card theft as an easy way to make some fast cash. There’s a range of protection options from security suites for computers to agencies whose specific task is to protect you identity and watch your credit history for unusual changes.

Two Major Mistakes Many People Make That Won’t Cost You any Money

Number One
On-line threats are everywhere on the internet and on the increase because of the ease in taking information. One of the big mistakes many people make is not having on-line security such as antivirus and firewalls. Some people do have them but don’t update.

Cost shouldn’t be an issue because there are some very good free products out there. Even the products that cost money can be obtained on a trial basis for you to evaluate and then decide if you wish to make a purchase.

Wireless internet is big risk if you aren’t using a security suite.

Number Two
Sensitive information needs to be disposed of appropriately, but many people just throw it in the bin without a thought. One of the easiest ways for a person to steal your identity is by using one of those preapproved letters so many banks and lending organisations send out in the mail. In the wrong hands, one of these letters can be used to open a new credit card and then maxed out before you even know it. Rip them up into tiny pieces or buy yourself a shredder.

Here are a few other good tips anyone can follow.

Report any lost or stolen credit cards immediately and cancel any that are inactive.

If you applied for a credit card, or if a card has expired, and a new one doesn’t arrive, notify the credit card provider fast.

Make sure you sign your credit card immediately.

Check for unauthorized charges on your bills.

Try electronic bills and statements instead of paper

Keep your personal documentation and your bank records somewhere safe.

Do not give your credit card number, or any bank account details over the phone.

Do not disclose your credit card and other personal data on-line unless the site is secure

Make sure all information is erased. From your old computer when you upgrade

Be aware of any persons that may be watching when you enter passwords or PIN numbers.

Case Study: USA Federal Trade Commission Figures for 2005

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said 8.3 million Americans, or nearly 4 percent of the population, were victims of identity theft in 2005.

3.2 million experienced fraud or misuse of their credit cards, 3.3 million suffered fraud or theft from non-credit card accounts, and 1.8 million had their personal information stolen to open new accounts in the victims' names.

The FTC also looked at the costs of identity theft. Where the ID theft was limited to existing accounts, the average loss was less than $500. However, "new account fraud," losses were much higher, an average $1,350.

Ten percent of new account fraud victims reported losses of $15,000 or more, with the top five percent of victims reporting losses of $30,000.

Recovering from new account fraud was more time-consuming and costly, the top 10 percent of victims incurred expenses of at least $3,000. Thirty-seven percent of victims reported harassment by debt collectors, being unable to get loans, having their utilities cut off, being subject to a criminal investigation or civil suit, being arrested, and having difficulties with bank accounts.

84 percent of identity theft victims did not know the thief, contradicting other studies that claimed the majority of identity theft crimes were committed by friends or relatives.

Tips for Securing Your Home

Windows
Most break-ins occur via a back window, which shouldn't happen when you consider how cheap and easy to install window locks are. Make sure you take into account small windows like the bathroom might have- thieves tend to get in anywhere small enough to fit your head.
And don’t leave the key in the lock.

Lighting
Sensor lights are a great idea for around the home, they activate whenever they detect movement. Solar-powered lights are available through sites like Ebay and need no wiring.

Time Switches
Thieves are very good at telling who is on holiday, at work or at University or College. By installing automatic timers so that your TV and other lights come on, you can create the impression that you’re home.

Away From Temptation
Don’t leave valuables where they can be seen through windows or outside your home.

Neighbourhood Watch
If you are going away for a while, ask a friend or neighbour that you trust to check on your home each day, water the plants, draw the curtains etc. A good relationship with your neighbours will help guard your home.

Burglar Alarms
Burglar alarms can be quite expensive, but the do-it-yourself ones on the market (while not as good as one installed by an expert) contain the most important part- The sticker you put on your window. If you do by an el-cheapo model, make sure you get two or three stickers and don’t tell anyone you have a cheap one.

Front Door Blues
Front doors are usually very flimsy in small apartments or flats. When you choose a place to live, take into consideration how secure the doors and windows are.
Never leave your spare key somewhere like under a pot plant- Thieves look there. Always have the locks changed when you move to a new location, the last thing you want is for the previous owner to have access to your new abode.

Don’t Leave Tools Around the Yard
Often people leave their expensive tools in places thieves can pick them up and then use to break into their house. Keep your tools locked away.
Also, try to control access to your backyard by installing a good gate.

Most Important of All
If you are burgled, don’t enter the house unless you are absolutely certain the thief has left the scene, they could be dangerous. You might also disturb any evidence the thief has left behind.

Toyota Lotto Scam

I'd only just posted my last article on scam lotteries when a new one popped into my junk mail, this one claims to be from Toyota and it's very authentic-looking.

Alas, it is a scam and if you scroll to the bottom you will see I've pasted Toyota's official reply to this scam.

TOYOTA INTERNATIONAL LOTTO (HEADQUARTERS) Customer Service Department Affiliate of Toyota Japan. #28 Kanashiwa road Tokyo JP

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made today, You are among the winners of the TOYOTA CAR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM

Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all part of the world as part of our electronic business Promotions Program. As a result of your visiting various websites we are running the e-business promotions for. You/Your Company email address, attached to ticket number 719-226-1319, with serial number 902-66 drew the lucky numbers 5,12, 30, 11, 17, 43 and Bonus number 12 , Your INSURANCE Number: FLS433/ 453L /GMSA and consequently you won in the Second Category of the TOYOTA FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW.

You have therefore been approved for the payment of the sum of US$500, 000, 00 in cash, including a Toyota car which is the winning present /amount for the Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of US$2,650,000.00 shared among the international winners in the Second category.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Please be informed that your won fund of the sum of US$500,000.00 is now with the payee center. Contact our agent and give them your full names so that they will re-insure your winning fund under your full names. Together with the port where your winning car should be shipped to.

To begin your claim, please call our claim agent or send email immediately to:-.
Certificate Agent,
Toyota Email Lotto
Mr. Thomas Lee
E-mail: thomaslee@toyota-jp.cn
E-mail: info@toyota-jp.cn
Phone: +86 13420100150
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, Please quote your
1. Full name:
2. Address/contact number:
3. Country of origin:
4. Age:
5. Occupation:
6. Tel/fax:
Sincerely,
Mrs Ing Chuny Liu
Hon Cordinator
www.toyota.cn

And the official reply from Toyota posted at www.toyota.co.jp/en/announcement/060822.html


"TOYOTA INTERNATIONAL LOTTO", ETC.
Toyota Motor Corporation and its affiliated companies have no connection whatsoever with any lotteries that inform members of the public by e-mail that they have won a prize, even if the "Toyota" name appears in the e-mail, such as e-mails from the so-called "Toyota International Lotto", "Toyota Car Promotions", "Toyota Car International Promotion Program" and "Toyota Fortune Lotto Draw". Any such e-mail was not sent by us or with our permission. Members of the public should exercise extreme caution before responding to any such e-mail or providing any personal information or money, as any e-mail using the "Toyota" name and claiming to award a lottery prize is highly likely to be part of a fraudulent scheme.
Aug. 28, 2006Toyota Motor Corporation

Fake Lottery Scams

I’m starting to see a few more fake lottery scams in my e-mails. Everyone wants to win the lotto, but you can’t win one that you didn’t enter in the first place.

Rohit Kaul is the sender of a recent one to enter my junk mail with the teaser ‘ you have won'. These scammers use many names and they do so because hundreds of people still fall victim to scam lotteries. The first thing these fraudsters do is ask you to send money to pay for some sort of local tax or insurance before they can release the winnings. Then they need another payment to pay a bank charge, and another for some other government fee and before you know it you've sent them a couple of hunderd dollares. Some people have sent tens of thousands in the past.

No lottery would ask you to pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars, to claim winnings. And, there’s no way to win a lottery from some far-off country if you never entered in the first place.

When in Doubt, Google It!

Check the lottery out with your local legislative body or on-line to see if it is legitimate. A simple Google search can often uncover warnings from other people out there who have either been caught out or are savvy enough to spot a scam.

In America, talk to the Federal Trade Commission about any bogus scams. Australia’s legislative body is the Department of Fair Trading and, in the UK, try Consumer Direct, they’re funded by the UK office of Fair Trading.

If you’re from another country and you aren’t sure about who to contact, just Google “top scams” and your local equivalent should appear in one of the first ten search results.

Can Lost Money be Recovered?

Nope. Most of these crooks are targeting first world nations from the third world. People disappear in places like Africa and some parts of Asia all the time. You won’t find them or your money.

Notify the authorities or one of the legislative bodies mentioned above so that they can warn others.

Hidden Cameras That Anyone Can Use

Be careful of what you say or do. No one is safe from surveillance these days as hidden cameras become almost undetectable. However, when playing with cheap technology like Nanny Cams, even the hunter can become the hunted.

Hidden cameras and Nanny Cams are gaining in popularity because you can use them for so many things. Given their name because of the main use - finding out abusive nannies- Nanny Cams can look like ordinary clock radios, teddy bears, pencil sharpeners, pot plants and much more.

People use them to check up on Nannies, children, cleaners and other household workers as well as even spying on cheating partners. They come in wired and wireless forms and can range in prices from around a hundred bucks for a basic camera.

You’ll also need a device to record the footage, such as a recordable DVD player, and if you purchase a wired model you may need someone to wire the thing up for you.

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There are always privacy issues when recording video and sound and Nanny Cams could be a potential legal risk if you don’t know the state or federal laws that govern their use. Perhaps consultation with your lawyer before using one would be beneficial if you’re concerned about legal ramifications.

The Biggest Privacy Issue of All

Just like wireless internet, wireless Nanny Cams send out a signal that can be intercepted. As a qualified electronics technician I know how easy it is to pick up some cheap gear that can be used to turn a Nanny Cam against the people who are using it.

Imagine someone parked outside your house watching the show on your Nanny Cam, imagine the strange guy next door watching every move you make in your own house. Wireless monitoring systems are easy targets for anyone with a little knowledge in the electronics field.

Real Life Article: 'Nanny Cams' A Window for Video Spies

The so-called "nanny-cams" are best sellers at stores like Fort Lauderdale's Spy Shop International. One big problem, though, according to the Spy Shop's Joss Klavans, is that they make it easy to spy on camera owners in their homes.

"You are getting a false sense of security with wireless," Klavans said, adding that "whenever you have a wireless system you are going to have to deal with people being able to pick up that same channel."

Like thousands of other parents, Lisa Liebman bought a nanny-cam to keep an eye on her kids.
Unknowingly, she opened a window for peeping toms, thieves or even kidnappers to see into her home.

To demonstrate, NBC 6 senior correspondent Ike Seamans drove through her neighborhood and picked up her nanny-cam's signal with just an inexpensive television receiver.

You can read the full NBC6 article by clicking here

Japanese Internet Killings Could Continue

There is the possibility of numerous copycat killings occurring in Japan as authorities struggle to quell the rise of online threats of suicide and harassment after a June 8 stabbing attack in Akihabara. The man involved rammed pedestrians with a truck then randomly knifed more than a dozen people after threatening to do so online. The attack has also mirrored a dark game that the killer may have played.

There is also a new dark side to the Japanese Internet emerging- The Suicide Club.

Concern has also been raised over other violent trends on Japanese websites, including suicide guides and violent games.

The Tragedy of Internet Gamers in Japan : "HIKIKOMORI"

The rise and rise of the reclusive internet gamer is becomming a trend worldwide, not just in Japan. However, Japan's model of the gamer is almost existentialistic.

We all know one. They call themselves 'gamers' and lock themselves away from society, semmingly discontent with the competitiveness of the educational system, workplace or just life in general. They submerge themselves in violent games, magazines and other media that seems dark and despondent to outsiders.

Similarities between the Akihabara killings and the gaming culture might seem a stretch of the imagination to some, but to others the connection is as plain as day.

The UK Telegraph produced an article that will be poignant to any parent who has lost sleep over their child who seems lost in an alternate universe of games and dark heroes.

Telegraph Artilce : Japan's Recluses Emerge and Start Killing

A decade ago, the Japanese public was gradually becoming aware of the term "hikikomori". Coined by a psychologist, Tamaki Saito, it referred to the individuals - usually male adolescents - who opted to lock themselves away from society and refused to communicate with the outside world.

Saito estimated that there could be as many as a million such social recluses across the country, choosing computer games, reading "manga" comics and surfing the internet rather than undergoing Japan's notoriously demanding education system, followed by unswerving loyalty to an employer.

And while parents may have wrung their hands with worry as they left another meal on a tray outside the bedroom door of their son, there was at least little concern that he was going to get into much trouble...

READ THE FULL TELEGRAPH ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE

BBC Article : Japan's Internet Suicide Clubs

In Japan, the internet has been blamed for a spate of group suicides which appear to have been arranged in online chat rooms.

Andrew Harding talked to one young man searching for someone to die with.

Naoki Tachiwana opened his apartment door with a surprisingly warm smile, and beckoned us in to a neat living room. His computer was switched on - the screen facing out towards Naoki's eleventh floor balcony, and the night sky above Tokyo's eastern suburbs...

Read the Full BBC Article by Clicking Here
Japan Times Article:Akihabara Killings

Killer posted warnings on Internet'I will kill . . . in Akihabara

The nation was still reeling Monday from the deadly mayhem waged the day before by a 25-year-old man who ran down several people with a truck and then proceeded to fatally stab others in Tokyo's densely crowded Akihabara electronics district, killing seven.

Prayers offered: Visitors pray Monday in Akihabara, Tokyo, for seven people who were killed during a random knife attack the previous day. It was learned that several posts on a mobile phone Web site foretold the deadly stabbing spree.

The descriptions and the time-stamps of the messages, which were apparently posted starting early Sunday and continued until minutes before the stabbing spree, closely followed the developments.

The suspect, Tomohiro Kato, 25, a temp staff worker from Shizuoka Prefecture, has admitted to investigators that he posted the messages on the Web site, and the Metropolitan Police Department was trying to confirm the link between the crime and the posts, police sources said...

Japan Times-Click Here to Read the Full 'Akihabara Killings' Article

Paypal and Ebay Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

PayPal and Ebay Scams Still Happening

PayPal and Ebay have often been the target of criminals who attempt to phish or hack the organisation and/or its clients. Phishing attacks are usually e-mails trying to trick account holders into entering their details to fake websites that look like the real thing.

If you fall for it, you’re sending your Ebay or PayPal account number, as well as passwords and even credit card information, to a criminal. Any guesses whether this criminal will then use that information to empty your PayPal or bank account. Also, they may well use your Ebay account for other scams.

Here’s a couple of samples of scam emails

"Dear PayPal User, Today we had some trouble with one of our computer systems. While the trouble appears to be minor, we are not taking any chances. We decided to take the troubled system off-line and replace it with a new system. Unfortunately this caused us to lose some member data. Please follow the link below and log into your account to make sure your information is not affected. Account balances have not been affected."

Dear PayPal client, While performing it's regular scheduled monthly billing address check our system found incompatible information which seams to be no longer the same with your current credit card information that we have on file. If you changed your billing information or if you moved from you previous address please follow up the link bellow and update your billing information: If you didn't change any of this information you still need to follow up the previous link and update your existing billing information because it means that our database regular scheduled update wasn't made correctly. Choosing to ignore this message will result in to a temporary suspension of your account within 24 hours, until you will choose to solve this unpleasant situation.We apologies for any inconvenience this may caused you and we strongly advise you to update your information you have on file with us.

The scams will send account holders to a fake website where the victim will give up their details. The scams are quite sophisticated and the fake emails arrive with PayPal or Ebay logos.

The PayPal Security Center, located within the organization’s website, gives some good instructions for spotting phishing scams.

Ebay have some good information here

More on Identity Theft

Identity thieves use your own information against you to assume your identity. An identity thief can then open bank accounts, write bad checks, acquire new credit card accounts, personal loans, cash advances, cellular phone accounts or even illegally obtain employment in your name.

They may even break the law using your name.

Who Are These Identity Thieves?

It could be anyone. Although about half of identity theft cases in America are attributed to someone who knows the victim, but don‘t assume that this is the only area that the threat of fraud attacks from. Anyone wIho has access to your personal information could descend your identity and credit history in turmoil by assuming your identity.

Why do they do it?

Illegal immigrants do it to work in foreign countries. Some people do it so they can have access to medical insurance. Some people commit identity theft to hide from their past. The most sinister are terrorists or people who have previously committed a serious crime, like sex offenders who change their identity to try and gain access to employment at schools and gain access to children.

Some are internet hackers who run their scams on stolen credit cards and bandwidth provided by unknowing users. This practise has become more and more prevalent with the popularity of wireless internet. Most people do not take precautions when they use wireless internet and it is like leaving your front door open while you sleep at night.

Who is at Risk of Identity Theft?

Everyone is. Those at greatest risk don’t dispose of, or are careless with, information like credit card numbers, bank and other accounts, birth certificates, numbers associated with income tax and driver’s licenses.

On line, the threats are ever increasing and range from issues like phishing to hidden code within social sites like Myspace and Facebook. You should be very careful about forwarding your information across the web, especially when using wireless internet.

Physorg.com Article : Second-Hand Computers Pose Identity Theft Threat

A new identity theft study conducted by leading University of Leicester criminologist, Professor Martin Gill found that second-hand computers - which account for one in 12 computers in use worldwide - can be a potential treasure trove of personal information - putting users at risk of fraud and identity theft. The study urges personal and business computer users to ensure that all data is removed from their computers prior to disposing of them.

During his study, Second-Hand Computers and Identity Fraud, Professor Gill and his team purchased six computers through a mixture of second hand channels. They then conducted a forensic data analysis on each one, using a widely available software programme.

Half of the computers had in fact not been securely wiped. In one case there had been no attempt to wipe the contents whatsoever. Worryingly, data retrieved from two of the computers contained information that could be used by an identity thief. ..

Read the Full Article by Clicking Here

Safety for Children Online

Is it Safe for Kids On-line?

It’s up to their parents to take the right precautions. If you allow them carte blanch to do as they wish, they face on-line predators and the temptation of pornography among other things.

On the other hand, if you do too much and smother them you could drive them to do things behind your back. The internet should be a family activity and with good communication it can be exactly that.

So How Do You Keep an Eye on What the Kids Are Doing Without Betraying Their Trust?

It’s a good idea to set house rules about what information your children can give out and where they can go on-line. On-line communities like Myspace, Friendster and Facebook are extremely popular with young people (and some older kids, too), but they have to understand how easy a predator can track them using simple information obtained from the web.

Talk to your kids about they’re doing on the internet and let them know they can tell you if they come across something that isn’t what they expect. Get yourself up to date with some of the serious on-line threats like identity fraud, internet bullying, stalkers, phishing and spam. It’ll impress if the person setting the rules knows what they’re talking about.

Don’t put details like full names, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and schools into social sites unless you’re going to restrict who can view the profile.

Try Some of the New Breed of Security Software Available

You might even consider using filters or surveillance software. Kaspersky has just released a new security suite that features a unique parental control. It’s worth downloading the free trial version to evaluate yourself. Just Google or Yahoo “Kaspersky free trial” and see what comes up.

In addition to parental control it has all the usual stuff like a firewall and antivirus. Kaspersky have obviously put a lot of work into simplifying the operation of their security software after a common complaint about previous efforts was continually that the product was difficult for novices to use.

Time.com Article : Facebook Sets Predator Safeguards

Facebook will add more than 40 new safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyberbullies, attorneys general from several states said Thursday.

The changes include banning convicted sex offenders from the site, limiting older users' ability to search online for subscribers under 18 and building a task force seeking ways to better verify users' ages and identities.

Read the full Time.com article

Safety When Walking

If you’re walking alone at night to keep fit, or perhaps you're a student on campus or just need to get where you're going, it’s understandable that you might feel uneasy from time to time. Here are some simple tips that can help minimise your chances of being targeted by thieves, attackers or even stalkers;

1.Keep alert. If you feel as though something is wrong, head for a well-lit or populated area.

2.Try to walk against the flow of traffic as this will make it easy to see any cars that are approaching.

3.Walk with friends whenever you can, there‘s safety in numbers.

4.If people are following you or approach you, don't stop to have a conversation with them. Try to keep moving and find a well populated area.

5.Avoid walking where the lighting is poor, such as parks and laneways.

6.Handbags should be carried either in front of you or under your arm with the strap secured. Never let the bag or strap hang loosely.

7.Avoid wearing headphones as it’s difficult to hear what is happening around you.

8.If you have to walk alone, vary your route and consider a personal duress alarm.

9. Carry a phone for emergencies

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Driving and talking on a mobile phone is a definite no-no, but what about walking and talking on the phone? Apparently, it’s just as dangerous.In a study into mobile phone use among pedestrians, University of New South Wales researchers Julie Hatfield and Susanne Murphy observed more than 500 people crossing at intersections and found that those talking on phones did indeed appear more distracted than those who were not.

Men who were chatting on the phone crossed more slowly at intersections without traffic signals. Women on the phone not only crossed over more slowly, but also were less likely to look at traffic before setting out or to wait for cars to stop. It seems the real issue seems to be one of distraction, and that is as important for pedestrians crossing the road as it is for drivers, the study said.

Man Murdered While Walking the Dog

Police believe a plank of wood was used to assault a 66-year-old man who later died in hospital. A murder inquiry was launched after Peter Seaman was attacked while walking his dog in the Cornish village of Dobwalls on Thursday. The retired heating engineer was taken to hospital with serious head injuries but later died.

A 20-year-old man from the Looe area has been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Mr Seaman, who lived in the village, had been walking his terrier dog along Duloe road at about 1640 pm on Thursday afternoon when he was attacked near a bus shelter.
Police officers have since recovered a length of timber from the scene.

The Dangers of Using Pepper Spray and Stun Guns

Stun Guns and Tasers have their advantages, but they also have disadvantages for walkers. The biggest issue is that an attacker has to be close enough for you to touch them with the stun gun. That means you have a split second to react. There is also the urban myth that you can also be electrocuted if the attacker is touching you when you shock them. I'm not going to say this won't happen.

Another factor is clothing. If your attacker is heavily suited up with a rubber coat or similar thick clothing the effect of the stun gun could be minimal.

The voltage in stun guns ranges from around 50,000 volts to 1,000,000 volts. The amperage in stun guns is relatively low at around 2mA to 4.6mA (electrical current above 100mA is considered to be potentially lethal). Because the amount of current is relatively low, stun guns are considered to be non-lethal to humans.

Stun Guns have become big business and these days come as dual purpose protection aids. Some are flashlights with built in stun feature. Others are disguised as phones, pagers etc.

A telescopic stun baton is designed to be used on an attacking dog. Dog attacks are on the increase and one of these would be practical equipment for any fitness freak.

Pepper Spray is an option more civilians and law enforcement professionals are capitalising on. Imagine a substance 600 times hotter than cayenne pepper sprayed into your face, eyes and nostrils. Imagine if you have asthma or bronchitis. Or a heart condition.

The pain will be intense, breathing will become difficult and the subject's eyes will swell when sprayed with pepper (capsicum) aerosol. They will become disoriented and fall to the ground. Fear and panic will set in.

The European Parliament Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA) published in 1998 “An Appraisal of Technologies of Political Control” with extensive information on pepper spray and tear gas. They write:

"The effects of pepper spray are far more severe, including temporary blindness which last from 15-30 minutes, a burning sensation of the skin which last from 45 to 60 minutes, upper body spasms which force a person to bend forward and uncontrollable coughing making it difficult to breathe or speak for between 3 to 15 minutes."

Those with asthma, taking other drugs, or subject to restraining techniques which restrict the breathing passages, risk death.

Immunity to Pepper Spray

Some people are actually immune to Pepper Spray. There is no way of telling who is and who isn't just by looking at them. For those out there who aren't lucky enough to be immune, capsicum is not washable by water alone, so hosing off a victim will not work. The only way to remove it is to wash liberally with detergent and water.

There is some speculation about clearasil being effective as a removal tool.

Something Interesting to Talk About

Pepper spray is banned for use in war by Article I.5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention which bans the use of all riot control agents in warfare whether lethal or non-lethal.