Your Child and Online Abduction
The fact that the Internet is rapidly expanding backs the notion that more people are regularly using the online medium. Be it via desktops, tablets and mobile phones. Thus, every day, there are tons of reports over cyber-crimes committed by online predators worldwide.
Because the Internet is an open medium for people from all walks of life, you can’t always prevent your kids from getting there. When logged on the Internet, your child can be exposed to a lot of dangers. There are many predators out there that are ready to feed on innocent children within the Internet.
The Internet is a place to meet people and expand a person’s social circle. However, be reminded, and also remind your kids, that not all people you may meet online are ‘friend material’. Like in actual life applications, you should never easily provide trust to anybody.
Online abduction is among the most popular cyber-crimes committed by scrupulous individuals over the Internet. It isn’t surprising that there have already been reports of kids getting kidnapped by people they meet over the Internet. Abductors can’t abduct your child online, but some tactics could help them do dirty intentions.
Because kids are just starting in life, they have to learn things and lessons in life the hard way. It is during the childhood and puberty years of kids that you should be able to extend your protection and guidance to your kids.
To learn more about how online abductions are widely committed, it would be helpful if you would be informed about how predators do their thing. Take note that online abduction strategies are alike in many ways, so by learning the usual worst-case scenarios, you can understand the process better and prepare to prevent them from occurring.
Some worst-case scenarios of online abduction…
Worst case scenario 1
Your child is logged online. Because almost all his friends are raving about Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp and several other social networking sites, it is natural that he keeps his account. Through the site and/or apps, your child can interact with his friends through the in-site interactive features like group chats, emails, private messaging and posts.
Because social networking sites are social function systems, some features allow people to explore the entire system to meet new people. This is where the danger sets in. There might be individuals who would befriend your child. The individual may disguise themselves as another kid the same age as your child.
The process doesn’t happen overnight. Cybercriminals are so patient that they are willing to spend days, weeks, months or even years establishing the friendship with your child. When your child is at ease with the person, that is when the cybercriminal attacks.
The cybercriminal can ask your kid for an eyeball, wherein they would be meeting each other personally. Most online abduction cases ever reported are committed this way. When the kid is out to take an eyeball with his friend, it turns out the meeting is set up and the disguising friend will then abduct the kid.
Worst case scenario 2
In group chats and other interactive channels, your kid might meet people who are out there to socialise so they could victimise innocent people. The cybercriminals might lure your kid into doing something that could compromise his safety, as well as your safety and the safety of all on your household.
The cybercriminal can ask your kid about addresses, credit card numbers and personal identification numbers on bank accounts.
Since your kid is unsuspecting and is treating his online friend with so much trust, he would be willing to disclose the information asked by his friend.
When your kid divulges your address, the cybercriminal then will be able to track and monitor your kid and abduct him when there is a chance. The abductor might kidnap your kid when nobody’s home except your child, or during the middle of the night when everybody is asleep.
What to do when your kid is abducted
The best thing to do when your child has been victimised by online abduction is to report the matter to the authorities. The police will extend their help in helping you find your missing child. Also retrieve the information on the Internet about your child’s friends, who can be suspected of committing cybercrime.
Keep your cool and do not panic. Experts are advising you not to give in to the demands of the abductor. If you do, you might be contributing to the continuity of such crimes. If you don’t, give your full cooperation to the authorities.
Online abduction can be prevented if you educate your child about the dangers of communicating with strangers online. Do your thing now.
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