Know the Tricks and Signs of an Online Predator
Look for these "RED FLAGS"
Online Chat Room, Instant Messaging (IM) and Email Predators
The FBI looks for criminals on the Internet known as predators. Predators are dangerous and attempt to take advantage of and hurt kids. Some of these people try to get kids to meet them in person, others collect and trade pictures of kids. Offenders are clever and will try to trick you and win you over so you should be aware and recognize the potential danger of these contacts.
The following are some "red flags" to help you recognize when you may be in contact with a predator:
Someone you met online is sending you letters, photographs, and/or offering to give you gifts.
Some predators try to lure the kids by giving them attention, affection, kindness and even gifts. Computer-sex offenders have even sent plane tickets in order for the child to travel across the country to meet them.
An online contact is extremely interested in your problems and is trying to make you upset with your family.
Predators listen to and appear to care about the problems of children. They will try and make a big deal out of any minor problems that you may have and work very hard at driving a wedge between you and your family. Remember, predators are criminals that are aware of the latest music, hobbies, and interests of kids and will use that information to act like your friend.
Someone is asking you a lot of personal questions and/or chatting about sexual topics.
The FBI wants you to know that some predators will immediately engage in sexual and very personal conversation. Predators attempt to trick kids in chat rooms by asking questions about personal information and chatting about sexual content, since they know many kids are curious about sex.
