Know the danger signs-these can include: spending lots of unsupervised time online; having pornography on his or her computer or wireless phone; hiding the screen or shutting it off quickly when adults are near; receiving mysterious gifts or packages; and becoming withdrawn from family or classmates.
- Talk openly with the child about your suspicions; tell them about the dangers of computer-sex offenders.
- Review the contents of the computer or phone. If you don’t know how, ask a friend, coworker, or other knowledgeable person.
- (Parents/guardians) Monitor access to electronic communications-chat rooms, instant messages, phones and e-mail.
- (Teachers) Raise your Concerns with the child’s parent/guardian.
- Contact your local or state law enforcement agency and the. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. ’s CyberTipline at cybertipline.com.
If you suspect a child has received a sexual solicitation or pornography, keep the computer or phone turned off in order to preserve any evidence for law enforcement use. Don’t attempt to copy any of the images and/or text found on the computer.
Adapted in part from A Parents Guide to Internet Safety, developed by the FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
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