The FBI has seen a "rapid increase" in Internet crimes against children over the last few years. In fact over the past 4-5 years there has been an increase in child pornography and online sexual predators.
The Internet has become the new playground for children and makes it convenient for kids to be isolated. Rather than talking to friends on the telephone, watching T.V., or doing homework, they are chatting online with friends, acquaintances, and strangers.
Children use the Internet primarily after school 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. In fact, generally 3-4 million kids are online during that time. As a result Predators are "online" during those hours as well.
Unfortunately Child Predators are smart hunters. They are quick to learn where these kids reside through personal profiles, a registered hobby, an interest group, IM, chat rooms, emails, etc.
The sad fact is that one out of four kids is bothered by solicitations, what does this mean for the other three quarters?
Child safety is certainly at risk. Today, email addresses are given out so freely for online newsletters, promotions, announcements, and sales. Do you ever wonder who these people are that actually receive your email? Unfortunately, even the so-called "child friendly" sites like Nickelodeon.com, scholastic.com, and Nintendo.com cannot be fully protected.
Predator's Tricks and Enticements
• Establish free offer pages that promise something enticing to children in exchange for their personal information. All of this is done on forms with no personal contact. Contact is made later!
• Make promises to their victims for things that the victim's parents forbid such as body piercing, tattoos, certain clothes, jewelry, make-up, drugs. These promises made by the perpetrator create a wedge between the parent/child bond.
• Send thoughtful gifts and/or plane tickets to meet.
• Tell kids how to accept their calls late at night so parents will not hear the phone ring. For example, "at 11:30 p.m., call the weather, I'll click in, and then take my call...the phone will never ring".
• Nurture an online relationship generally for months (but it may be shorter) breaking down and the parental bond, promoting secrecy among friends and family in order to steal the victim away.
• Often block their Caller ID. But it is easy for them to obtain information from a caller whose number is not blocked. Once they have the caller's phone number, a street address is easy to locate. They can do mapquest.com and can be at the victim's door in no time.
• May have 800 numbers for easy access.
How a Predator Stalks
• Starting point a Chat room...the predator has to find a potential victim
• He sends a photo (not of himself but, instead probably of some good looking guy)
• Confidence is built and emailing starts (a more private way to communicate than in a chat room)
• When trust and friendship is established the phone calls begin
• The predator sends a phone card or has an 800 number
• The Predator encourages victim to pose nude
• The Predator often will send photos of other naked children to put the new victim at ease. He even tells them that "other kids send him their photos because they trust him"
EVERY PHOTO IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Warning Signs of Dangerous Activity
• Child refuses to give screen name(s) or password(s) to parents.
• Turning off the computer quickly and incorrectly when someone walks in the room.
• Switching screens quickly when someone walks in the room.
• Not unlocking the door right away when on the computer or Internet.
• History file on computer is blank; means he/she often deletes files.
• Finding pornography on the computer (disks, photos, .gif/. jpg).
Strategies for Concerned Parents
• Talk with your child about sexual victimization and potential online danger. For example, inappropriate Im (Instant Messages), text messaging (texting), chat, e-mail, photos, or solicitations.
• Spend time with your children online. Have them teach you about their favorite online destinations.
• Install software for site blockers: WebWatcher is rated as the best and available at the site listed below.
• Always know your child's screen name(s) and password(s). They may have several accounts.
• Know with whom your child converses.
• Children need to be taught never to give out any identifying personal information about themselves or their families.
• Be aware of gifts, packages, and phone cards.
• Be aware of changes in your child's behavior (isolation, severing bonds between family and friends).
• The computer should be placed in a well-visited area of the home.
• Get to know computer language and lingo; Emoticons (search yahoo.com key word "emoticons"
Notify the police, FBI, Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Internet server if you feel your child is in danger.
To get a free Texting abbreviations and Emoticons dictionary filled with valuable links and resources go to http://www.textingcheatsheet.com
Patrick Gunning & Georgina Sprenkle Own PG Media. Pat is a veteran corporate marketer and Georgina has marketed and developed marketing strategies online since 1998. One of their online resources is http://www.searchnetdetective.com . Access the largest compilation of public records of its kind Background Checks, Criminal Records, Credit Reports, Personal Searches, Reverse Phone & much more!
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