FBI Warns that People Who Use AOL at Internet Cafés Could be Terrorists

AllGov:
Friday, February 10, 2012
America Online users beware: If you access your AOL account from a computer at an Internet café, your name may wind up on a terrorist-watch list.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), AOL users at public computer venues are just one possible type of suspicious person that business owners need to keep tabs on.

The FBI has been distributing flyers to paintball centers, banks, dive shops and even tattoo shops to educate them on how to spot potential terrorist activities.

In addition to noting who is accessing AOL, Internet café owners should watch out for and report customers who always pay for their service with cash, attempt to shield their screen from other people in the room, communicate through video games or use VOIP, all of which are signs of a would-be terrorist, says the FBI.

The flyers do remind business owners and their employees that “It is important to remember that just because someone’s speech, actions, beliefs, appearance, or way of life is different; it does not mean that he or she is suspicious.”
-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

To Learn More:

FBI Says Paying for Your Morning Coffee with Cash a Potential Terrorist Activity, Urges Coffee Shop Owners To Report Cash-Paying Customers To Authorities (by Ethan Huff, Natural News)

FBI “Communities Against Terrorism” Suspicious Activity Reporting Flyers (Public Intelligence)

Communities Against Terrorism: Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Internet Café (Bureau of Justice Assistance and Federal Bureau of Investigation) (pdf)