How can you identify an Internet predator?

Answer 1

This is a copy of an e-mai I received from a friend. It is quite interesting...Sorry, it is a bit long, but very eye opening.

To all of you who have kids that use the internet, boys and girls .
This is very important!!
(It even works for those that are disabled and living alone! )

After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line
She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213.
She checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on.
She sent him an instant message:

ByAngel213:
Hi. I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!

GoTo123:
LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? Don't you live in a safe neighborhood?

ByAngel213:
Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz' I didn't see anybody when I looked out.

GoTo123:
Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven't done that have you?

ByAngel213:
Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.

GoTo123:
Did you have a softball game after school today?

ByAngel213:
Yes and we won!!

GoTo123:
That's great! Who did you play?

ByAngel213:
We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees. LOL

GoTo123:
What is your team called?

ByAngel213:
We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really cool.

GoTo123:
Did you pitch?

ByAngel213:
No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don't want them mad at me. Bye!

GoTo123:
Catch you later. Bye Meanwhile......

GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out.
He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far.


Her name: Shannon Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985 Age: 13 State where she lived: North Carolina Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall.
Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she hadjust told him.
He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon until her parents came home from work.
He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton Cats.
Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey.
He knew she was in the eighth grade at the Canton Junior High School.
She had told him all this in the conversations they had on-line.
He had enough information to find her now.

Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ballpark that day.
She didn't want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games.
Parents were always overreacting and hers were the worst.
It made her wish she was not an only child.
Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parents wouldn't be so overprotective.

By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her.

Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her.
It was then that the memory came back.
She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely.
He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him.
He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissed the sudden fear she had felt.
After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him.
He nodded and she smiled back.
He noticed her name on the back of her shirt.
He knew he had found her.


Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her.
It was only a few blocks to Shannon's home, and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car.

Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon's house.
He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.

Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room.

"Shannon, come here," her father called. He sounded upset and she couldn't imagine why.
She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.

"Sit down," her father began, "this man has just told us a most interesting story about you."

Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!

"Do you know who I am, Shannon?" the man asked.

"No," Shannon answered.

"I am a police officer and your online friend, GoTo123."

Shannon was stunned. "That's impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! He's 14. And he lives in Michigan!"

The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but it wasn't true.
You see, Shannon, there are people on-line who pretend to be kids; I was one of them.
But while others do it to injure kids and hurt them, I belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators.
I came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to talk to people on-line.
You told me enough about yourself to make it easy for me to find you.
You name the school you went to, the name of your ball team and the position you played.
The number and name on your jersey just made finding you a breeze."
Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in Michigan?"
He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh. It made you feel safe to think I was so far away, didn't it?"
She nodded.
"I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone.
Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the time on-line.
The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here and there on-line.
Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done it.
I hope you've learned a lesson from this and won't do it again.
Tell others about this so they will be safe too?"

"It's a promise!"

That night Shannon and her Dad and Mom all knelt down together and thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a tragic situation.

*****NOW*****


This storry illustrates the importance of not giving out ANY information about ourselves.
This world we live in today is too dangerous to even give out your age, let alone anything else.

Answer 2

Honestly, it isn't always easy. It reminds me of the old question to kids, What does a stranger look like? The answers often being along the lines of the boogie man. Often it is the one who seems normal that turns out to be the pred.

One KEY is if they portray themselves as one thing but make it clearly different. If someone claims to be young, but make "adult" comments.

ANYONE who asks for personal information that makes You uncomfortable or your legal gaurdian uncomfortable, is to immidiately be reprimanded. If they know or believe you to be a minor and make ANY advances, discontinue with them immidiately, and if possible report them.

Any threats are unacceptible.

I think the answer above mine is probably best, Assume ALL are bad.

I have, appearantly, hurt the feelings of other users before because I don't see them as "friends", at the very best they are penpals.

I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have had people ask me the IDs of other Witnesses I have met online. Asside from 1 I recently bumped into real world, I don't know any. I consider them all potential Witnesses, unless they make it clear they aren't.

The ONLY person I can completely vouch for online, is myself, and even that is a little risky:D

To illustrate that point, when I was once typing with a penpal I had just met I mentioned the dangers of being to open online. She didn't agree, within the course of 2 hours, I had told her the names and addresses of old relatives of her's, friends, etc. I have done the same for/with others. It can be rather easy to be one thing, and seem another, especially online.

Answer 3

I think the problem is that you can't really identify them. Just be cautious of anyone taking a ton of interest in you and asking a lot of personal questions. Such as where do you live? What's your last name? What do you parents do? Where do you go to school? Are you ever alone? What's your phone number? Just personal questions as to thing that they'd be able to track you down.

Just be cautious. If you have doubts- listen to yourself. Most importantly- NEVER EVER meet anyone from the internet unless you've told your parents or you have someone with you- OR BOTH. Always meet in a very public place and never get into their car, etc.

JUST USE CAUTION!!!!
:)
Good luck. Stay safe!!!!

Answer 4

The problem is, you can't. They know how to play on the weaknesses of kids, talk them up. And over the course of time, as they become a "friend" they can get enough information a little at the time (the victim rarely recognizes what they are doing), to many times locate the child they are communicating with. Someone you don't know who asks too many questions is someone to at the very least be cautious with.

Answer 5

try going to cyberangels.org

for info. harssing, slandering all the time following you around etc is a predator. or making overerly charming remakrs to young kids.

Answer 6

They ask baiting questions such as "How can you identify an internet predator".

Answer 7

I'm six feet tall, I claim to be good looking and the same age you are. I------Wait I ah er-------You can't that's why you have to be careful. When in doubt bring you dad or big brother for "back-up".

Answer 8

If they seem more grown up or mature than what they say their age is, or if they say they are an adult but really feel a connection to you.

Answer 9

Well, If your kids are talking to someone, You may be able to check their chat history. Type their name on Google, they could be on there.

Answer 10

It is impossible to tell....
Thus ASSUME all on the internet are predatory nut cases...

Answer 11

They often post questions on YA.