An online predator

An online predator is an internet user who exploits vulnerable people, usually for sexual or financial purposes.

Online predators think of others as prey. They try to trick young people into meeting with them face to face so they can harm them. They can also try to trick people into giving them their personal information so they can steal from them.

Predators will use chat rooms, peer to peer forums, and IM to find victims. They will try to get their victims to trust them by acting like they care about the same things. Often they will bring up sexual topics and/or send pictures to their victims before asking to meet with them face to face.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM AN ONLINE PREDATOR:

  • When someone threatens you or asks for too much information, talk to your parents, a teacher or the local police.
  • Chat with people you know from the real world, from school, band, community groups, your family.
  • Keep PII (what adults call personally identifiable information) private. That's your name, school, social security number, address, age, birthday, phone number and family or friends names to yourself.
  • Make sure your screen name doesn't say too much, don't include stuff like your name, age or hobbies that predators can use.

    • Adapted from www.staysafe.org.