The Myth and The Reality About Online Crime
Posted by Greg Writer on May 20, 2007
The public impression about Internet crime is wrong. That’s what experts on Internet safety recently told a commitee that advises the U.S. Congress.
According to the experts, the public generally believes that predators go on the net and pretend to be kids. The public believes predators target young children by lying about their ages, motives, and identities, and then trick kids into disclosing personal information about themselves, and then stalk them.
In reality, the predominate online victim is not a young child, but a teenager. And deception does not generally play a significant role. Most predators do not conceal that they are adults and do not conceal that they are interested in sex. Instead, they take advantage of common teenage vulnerabilities and lure their victims into actually meeting with them.
To read the full presentation made to the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, click here. It is disturbing, but essential, reading for any parent.
