some people dont think much about it, but this is VERY true. I've found out information about people like this myself.
>>After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and
>>get on-line . She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213. She checked
>>her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on. She sent him an instant message:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>ByAngel213:
>>Hi.
>>I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was
>>following me home today. It was really weird!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>GoTo123:
>>LOL
>>You watch too much TV. Why would someone
>>be following you? Don't you live in a safe
>>neighborhood?
>>
>>ByAngel213:
>>Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination
>>cuz'I didn't see anybody when I looked out.
>>
>>GoTo123:
>>Unless you gave your name out on-line.
>>You haven't done that have you?
>>
>>ByAngel213:
>>Of course not.I'm not stupid you know.
>>
>>GoTo123:
>>Did you have a softball game after school
>>today?
>>
>>ByAngel213:
>>Yes and we won!!
>>
>>GoTo123:
>>That's great! Who did you play?
>>
>>ByAngel213:
>>We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms
>>are so gross! They look like bees. LOL
>>
>>GoTo123:
>>What is your team called?
>>
>>ByAngel213:
>>We are the CantonCats. We have tiger paws
>>on our uniforms. They are really cool.
>>
>>GoTo123:
>>Did you pitch?
>>
>>ByAngel213:
>>No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has
>>tobe done before my parents get home. I don't want
>>them mad at me. Bye!
>>
>>GoTo123:
>>Catch you later. Bye
>>
>>
>>
>>Meanwhile...GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her
>>profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took
>>out a pen
>>andbegan to write down what he knew about Angel so far.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Her name: Shannon
>>Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985
>>Age: 13
>>State where she lived: North Carolina
>>
>>
>>Hobbies:
>>softball, chorus, skating &going to the mall.
>>
>>
>>Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just
>>told him. He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon
>>until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on
>>Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton
>>Cats. Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey.
>>
>>He knew she was in the eighth grade at the Canton Jr.High School. She had
>>told him all this in the conversations they had on- line. He hadenough
>>information to find her now.
>>
>>
>>Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from
>>the ballpark that day. She didn't want them to make a scene &stop her from
>>walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacting
>>&hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if
>>she had brothers &sisters, her parents wouldn't be so overprotective.
>>
>>
>>
>>By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her. Her
>>game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It
>>was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base
>>position to see a man watching her closely.
>>
>>He was leaning against the fence behind first base &he smiled whenshe
>>looked at him. He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissedthe sudden
>>fear she had felt.
>>
>>After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked tothe coach. She
>>noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded &she smiled
>>back. He noticed her name on theback of her shirt. He knew he had found
>>her.
>>
>>Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to
>>Shannon'S home, &once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the
>>park to get his car .
>>
>>Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat untilthe time came to
>>go to Shannon'S house. He drove to a fastfood restaurant and sat there
>>until time to make his move.
>>
>>Shannonwas in her room later that evening when she heardvoices in the
>>living room.
>>
>>"Shannon, come here," her father called. He sounded upset &she couldn't
>>imagine why. She went into the ro om to see theman from the ballpark
>>sitting on the sofa.
>>
>>"Sit down," her father began, "this man has just toldus a most interesting
>>story about you."
>>
>>Shannonsat back. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never
>>seen him before today!
>>
>>"Do you know who I am, Shannon?" the man asked.
>>
>>"No," Shannonanswered.
>>
>>"I am a police officer and your online friend, GoTo123."
>>
>>Shannonwas stunned. "That's impossible! GoTo123 is a kid my age! He's 14.
>>And he lives in Michigan !"
>>
>>The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but it wasn't true. You see,
>>Shannon, there are people on-line who pretend to be kids; I was one of
>>them. But while others do it to injure kids &hurtthem, I belong to a group
>>of parents who do it to protect
>>kids from predators. I came here to find you to teach you how dangerousit
>>is to talk to people on-line. You told me enough aboutyourself to make it
>>easy for me to find you. You named theschool you went to, the name of your
>>ball team and the position you played. The number and name on your jersey
>>just madefinding you a breeze."
>>
>>Shannonwas stunned. "You mean you don't live in Michigan?"
>>
>>He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh. It made you feelsafe to think I was so
>>far away, didn't it?"
>>
>>She nodded.
>>
>>"I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as lucky. The
>>guy found her &murdered her while she was homealone. Kids are taught not
>>to tell anyone when they arealone, yet they do it all the time on-line.
>>The wrong people trick
>>youinto giving out information a little here and there on-line.
>>
>>Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find youwithout
>>even realizing you have done it. I hope you've learneda lesson from this
>>and won't do it again. Tell others about thisso they will be safe too?"
>>
>>"It's a promise!"
>>
>>That night Shannon and her Dad and Mom thanked God for protecting
>>Shannonfrom what could have been a tragic situation.