At The Fortune Society, the Digital Equity program offers tech support and training sessions, equipping participants with the tools necessary to navigate the digital world. The training sessions touch on numerous topics, including email basics, Microsoft Office, using a smartphone and more, helping participants develop and achieve personal goals.  

Many participants, like Barry, approach the digital training workshops with some foundational tech knowledge. Barry knew how to type on a keyboard and look up information online but wanted to expand upon these skills for professional and personal use. He attends the digital equity classes at Fortune’s Long Island City service center two to three times a week and participates in group tutoring sessions each Friday.    

“Learning these skills takes a lot of review and reinforcement,” Barry shared. “The first class is very basic; it’s an introduction to computers and hardware, then they get more advanced. There is a schedule each month including specialized workshops, like digital photography and online safety.”  

In tandem with general technology classes, the Digital Equity program emphasizes the importance of online safety, partnering with Jim Blue, a technology advisor and expert in the field, to educate participants about identity theft. 

Identity theft is the fraudulent use of another person’s personal or financial information without their knowledge. Incarcerated individuals can find themselves targeted online from lack of access to credit information, others having access to their data, or personal data circulating online. Developing an understanding of identity theft and online safety is imperative during reentry.  

Jim schedules one-on-one sessions with participants interested in learning more. In these sessions, he shares key insights about protecting oneself online and what to look out for, including common scams and hacking methods. He advises participants to avoid sharing sensitive information online, including credit card information, Social Security numbers, or any other information that may put them at risk. 

“There are certain scams that we know about,” Jim explained. “For example, through email, people may ask for your information, and I tell them to call in and check with their banks before giving any information online. People can copy logos to make an email look secure, but you shouldn’t trust it no matter how real it may look.”  

Jim also assists participants with password protection. He encourages them to create strong passwords using letters, numbers, and symbols and to avoid using common words or personal details like addresses or names. Rather than reusing the same password for multiple accounts, he advises them to create unique passwords and store a list in a safe place away from the computer.  

While it is impossible to eliminate the threat of identity theft completely, Jim shared that there are opportunities to minimize its risk. One is to set up bank app notifications to be alerted after every credit or debit card transaction.  

“I can’t tell people what to do exactly, but I let them know that they have to determine how much risk they are willing to take,” Jim explained. “Having your credit card information saved on your phone or on a website may be a big risk, so the most important thing is to be aware of potential threats.”  

Barry shared that, after attending a one-on-one session with Jim, he has made vital changes to protect himself better online and safely navigate the digital world.  

“There are always new things to learn. Whether that’s setting up an email account or understanding identity theft, you can learn something in every class.”