Beware of Child Predators

Week of September 15, 2008

The Internet can be a dangerous playground. Forty percent of all incidents of missing children in the country are related to the Internet, while 70 percent of them were targeted at home. All online predators reach their victims at home through computers, video game consoles, and cell phones. They will disguise themselves as friends before isolating children from their families. Children are at high risk because they are curious, easily led in conversation, need attention, affection, to please and sometimes defy parents. For more information on protecting children from Internet predators, visit the Project Safe Childhood website or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.