Peoria Police
Department
600 SW Adams Street Peoria, Illinois 61602 Ph.: 309-673-4521 Fax: 309-494-8336
Safety Tips for
Parents, Children, and Consumers Using the Internet
Parents:
Safety Tips for Your Child's Use of the Internet
1. Keep the computer that the child is using in a public room. Do not put it in
the child's bedroom or anywhere it will be difficult for you to monitor the
child's activity on-line. Review the material that
is on your child's computer. If you do not know how, ask a friend, relative or
other knowledgeable person to review it for you. Any forms of pornography
or sexual communication can be a warning sign that your child has or is
communicating with a sexual predator. Further, consider talking openly with your
child about the dangers of computer sex offenders.
2. Set safety rules that you and your child understand and post them by the
computer. Below are some
examples:
Never give out personal
information on-line, such as their
full name, address, telephone number, or school information.
Never upload pictures of themselves on the Internet to people they do not
personally
know.
Never download pictures from an
unknown source. There is a good chance that these downloaded pictures could be
sexually explicit images.
Never respond to E-mail or messages that are suggestive, obscene, or
harassing.
Never arrange a face-to-face
meeting with an individual they met on-line.
.
3. Use either the parental controls
built-in by the service provider or purchase software such as Cyber Sentinel,
Net Nanny, Surf Watch or Cyber Sitter that installs parental controls
on your computer. While parents should utilize these mechanisms, they should not
totally rely on them.
4. Limit the amount of time your child spends on- line. Excessive use of
the computer by a teenager may signal a problem. There is no substitute for
parental supervision. Talk to your children and be aware of their on-line
activities. Know what type of chat rooms, e-mail, and messages your child is
involved in on-line. Also, take part in setting up your child's on-line account
so that you will be aware of their screen name and password. Your children's
e-mail should be checked randomly and be aware that your child could be
contacted through the U.S. Mail. Be up front and honest with your child about
your access to their account and the reasons why.
5. Investigate the computer safeguards that are used by your child's school and
at the homes of their friends. These are all places where your child might
access the Internet without normal supervision.
6. Use Caller ID service to determine who is calling your child. Most
telephone companies offer this service as well as service that allows you to
block your number from appearing on someone else's Caller ID. Contact your local
telephone company for further information regarding various telephone services.
7. Spend time with your child on-line and learn what sites they like and
one they do not.
What
to Do if Suspect if You Suspect Child Exploitation
Should any of the following situations arise in your residence by the use of the
Internet you should immediately contact the Peoria Police Department or your
local law enforcement agency:
1. Your child has received sexually explicit images from someone that knows that
your child is under 18 years of age.
2. Your child has been sexually solicited by someone who knows that your child
is under 18 years of age.
3. Your child or anyone in the residence has received child pornography.
If one of these examples occurs, keep the computer turned off in order to
preserve any
evidence. In addition, you should not attempt to copy any of the material found
on the computer, unless directed to do so by the law enforcement agency.
Consumers:
Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
When using the Internet to place orders, offer information only to legitimate
businesses that guarantee secure on-line transactions.
Before providing personal information, visit Bad Traders. Com to learn
whether or not the business that you want to purchase from is reputable.
.Keep track of credit and debit card statements monthly. Also, familiarize
yourself with the mailing dates of these bills.
Shred sensitive documents before discarding them into the trash.
Check with any of the major credit bureaus at least once a year to verify your
credit report for accuracy. The three largest are Trans Union, Experian, and
Equifax.
Investors:
Investigate Before You Invest !
Print a hard copy of any on-line solicitation that you are considering. Document
the Internet address (URL) and date and time that you saw the offer. You may
need it later.
Never assume that people on-line are who they claim to be.
Check with a trusted financial advisor attorney about an investment you find on
line.
Anyone can advertise on the internet therefore do not assume that your internet
service provider has approved the investment.
Ask the on-line promoter whether or not they've been paid to promote the
opportunity. Also, ask the promoter where the company is incorporated. Then call
that state's Secretary of State and ask if the company is incorporated with
them.
Before investing on-line, obtain financial information about the company.
Document such as an annual report and financial statements should be compared
with the information provided to you on-line.
Never believe everything you read online. Investigate
an on-line opportunity before investing.
If you feel you may have been victimized report it promptly. The
sooner you report it the better
chance you might have of getting your money back.
Internet
Scams: Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim
Avoid overstated claims of product effectiveness
Avoid advertisers that use hype titles and words such as "hot" to
describe an investment opportunity.
A void exaggerated claims of profit or potential earnings. Phrases such as
"Your principle is guaranteed" should be considered as a warning sign.
Avoid promotions such as exotic investments such as ostrich farming, gold mining
and wireless cable TV.
For Suspected Internet
Violations Contact the:
Peoria Police Department
Telephone #: 309-673-4521
E-mail: peoriapd@ci.peoria.il.us
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Police Department Detectives Wayne Lapen and James Feehan provided insights for
the contents of this page which was created April 12, 2002.
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Updated: March 23, 2002
Visitors Since: January 2001