But like a gun or a knife it may give local criminals an opportunity to threaten (or worse) you into giving them money from your wallet.

You are 100% spot-on with the "local" thing here.

People living in "bad neighborhoods" have to spend more energy and money on locks, fences, security cameras, self-policing as to not go out alone after dark, etc.

Problem is, Internet (and international phone system, to a lesser degree) makes everything so much closer, that scammers from half-way around the globe are "local" for all intents as purposes. Thus, online, every neighborhood is a "bad neighborhood".

> Thus, online, every neighborhood is a "bad neighborhood".

This is like the exaggerated crime coverage on the local news.

I've lived in the so-called "bad internet neighborhood" for 30 years, and I'm fine. It's not so bad.

Just like in a bad neighborhood, there's safety in numbers and keeping a low profile.

It does introduce an opportunity to lose a limb, though. I think I'd rather have my bank account hacked.

> It does introduce an opportunity to lose a limb, though. I think I'd rather have my bank account hacked.

Exactly!