Katherine Ann Olson answered an ad in Craigslist for a nanny. She was later found dead in the trunk of her car. In another recent case, Lisa Montgomery is accused of killing pregnant mother, Bobbi Jo Stinnett and stealing her unborn baby. The two chatted online regarding dogs. There is no question about it; the Internet played a vital role in the deaths of these two women.
Today, the Internet has made chatting online simple and easy. People are quick to look up online classifieds for a wide variety of services ranging from employment to purchasing used goods. Yet many fail to initiate safety practices when they are online, and it is never a good idea to meet someone online alone.
The Internet is a predator’s playground, and though we often teach our children to beware of online predators, adults are often victims of sinister motives. There is never any way that one can be absolutely sure that the person they are speaking with is in fact who they claim to be. No matter how old you are, everyone needs to use caution when answering online ads and sharing personal information with strangers via the Internet.
What many people fail to realize is that it is incredibly simple for predators to track a person down. In fact, with very little information a predator can locate your phone number, address, and even find your relatives through various online search engines. Chatting is a fun activity and when someone joins a forum or message board, they may feel that their privacy is protected but the reality is that a seasoned predator can find out who you are with very little information.
Additionally, many people may think that they are keeping their personal information safe and may not even realize that they have been giving clues to predators as to where they live. By mentioning events that you participate in your local area, a predator can narrow down where you live. Even screen names can help give you away and if your real fist and last name are displayed online, it doesn’t take much more then knowing your state to pull up an address and phone number.
However, the real danger occurs when people agree to meet strangers online. Whether for a job opportunity, to purchase something through a want ad, or to meet someone whom you think may be a potential friend or date, once you take that step you are putting yourself in danger. Yet, it is obvious that people continue to meet strangers online. So you may be wondering what steps you can take to ensure that you are safe. Here are some tips that will help make certain that you are using caution when meeting people online.
First, trust your instinct. There has never been any better warning signal then your own intuition. If something about a situation sends red flags, go with your gut. Also, remember the rule, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” It is better to pass on that would be discount sofa then to put your life in jeopardy.
Next, if you agree to meet someone online, never go alone. Travel with several friends, bring your cell phone, and always leave the details of where you are going. In fact, tell the person that you are agreeing to meet that you will be arriving with friends. If the person has bad intentions, this will usually divert their interest.
If you are engaging in online dating, make sure that your first meeting is in a public place. Take your own vehicle so that you have a way to leave if things don’t work out. Again, suggest double dating and always let other people know where you are going.
Finally, use extreme caution when discussing any personal information online; this not only pertains to forums and chat rooms, but to blogs as well. You may want to consider using a fake name and location for your profile information.
[...] Internet isn’t a safe place. First there was the news regarding the Craigslist murder of a young woman who answered an ad for a nanny, and now a MySpace hoax has resulted in the suicide of thirteen-year-old [...]
Pingback by Romow’s Society and Culture Blog » Blog Archive » Murder on MySpace: Hoax Leads to Suicide — March 8, 2008 @ 4:05 pm