My child was contacted by a predator

[NikiM20]

My child was contacted by an online predator. We never thought this would happen to us. We had supervised Internet access, only allowed certain websites etc. DD got an iPod touch for Christmas, we blocked Internet,email etc except through apps. ( only 1 app was this allowed) we thought this app was similar to neopets, pokemon etc. We did not know there was a chat feature.
This creep asked her to chat with
him privately, told her to delete messages that he wrote etc.
This is currently under investigation. At first I was embarrased , I didn't want anyone to know. Now, I want everyone to know. This creep went on a childs game to look for victims. It has been told to me over and over I did nothing wrong and it was this creep.

NO MATTER HOW SAFE YOU THINK YOUR KIDS ARE, THE CREEPS WILL FIND A WAY.

 

[RitaZ.]

It's frightening! I hope the authorities track down that creep.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

So glad you found out and put a stop to it. Kudos for you for speaking out and not keeping this a secret. NEITHER YOU NOR YOUR CHILD DID ANYTHING WRONG.

 

[krcit]

So scary!!

 

[glitterkittyy]

I hope they catch this jerk!

Thanks for the warning. It reminds me that I need to have that conversation (again) with my girls. They'll probably roll their eyes and say "We know, mom", but I'll do it anyway.

 

[dislaney]

Scary stuff. I hope they find the creep. As wonderful as the internet can be it also has made it very easy for these creeps to contact our children.

 

[luvmy3]

Thank goodness your dd told you. The creeps target kids sites, you did nothing wrong. Honestly, you have to expect creeps at every site your kid goes to because they are there. Your dd did the right thing by not making contact and telling you, thats how to keep them safe

 

[Tinijocaro]

How did you come to find out about it? Was your child afraid to tell you or did they tell you right away? Did your child know something was wrong?

 

[pixiewings71]

Thanks for posting, it's easy to forget how easy it is to find people online. We just got a netbook for the girls, we will definitely be discussing this with them again.

 

[NikiM20]

How did you come to find out about it? Was your child afraid to tell you or did they tell you right away? Did your child know something was wrong?

Mothers intuition I guess. I could tell there was something wrong , asked for the ipod she handed it over.

Thanks for all the support!! We honestly thought she was safe and she was not, we just want everyone to be aware.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

what app?

 

[Ilivetogo]

so scary!

 

[labdogs42]

what app?

That's what I was wondering, too. I haven't noticed a chat feature on any of mine, but they might be there.

 

[NikiM20]

Since it is under investigation I cannot reveal to much info , but from what DD said you get to a certain level and it unlocks

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

that doesn't make sense. why would investigation keep you from posting the app?

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

How awful for you & your child, OP. Thank goodness you two have open lines of communication going.

Predators are absolutely everywhere. I think some might even, when looking for a job, will go through the parking lots of businesses they're interested in just to see which car has a car seat in it & then check to see who goes to that car. At least, that's what my mom & aunt thought when my ex SIL married my DD. Who knows though; at least the jerk is in prison for the rest of his life!!

If it wasn't such a job installing/removing car seats, it might be worth it to keep them hidden in the trunk...

 

[luvmy3]

that doesn't make sense. why would investigation keep you from posting the app?

Because it would reveal the website and maybe they are trying to trap the predator and don't want it made "public" in case the predator was made aware that he had been found out.

 

[NikiM20]

Who knows what else this creep does online? I want him caught and I dont want to reveal to much info to tip him off. Im sorry you dont understand. The point of my post wasnt to say dont use this app or that app. My point was for people to be aware. We thought our child was safe.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm so sorry this happened but consider it a blessing that your DD was willing to share this with you. The only way to combat predators is to have an open honest relationship with your kids so they will speak up when concerned. If we don't talk to our kids the Predators will have no problem stepping in to say 'this or that is perfectly normal'.... and if a kid never heard different the whole 'respect your elders' thing kicks in and what you end up with is a perfect victim because by the time the kid realizes something is wrong he/she feels they were partially to blame and shame keeps them quiet.

If I want a burger I go to a burger place, if I want a movie I go to a theater so it follows if someone wants a kid they go where kids go. Places where kids congregate are less safe, not more so. Think about it, even the strictest guidelines give parents access to what their kids do so an evil parent has a direct line to other kids.

We just spoke with DS12 about this last night because he took a phone number from someone from X-Box LIVE. I told him that when I was about 12 I started to get lots of attention from older people. One DF's ENGAGED to a beautiful girl 29 year old brother arranged for me to sleepover and tried chatting me up in the kitchen. He even called me at home asking if he could bring me out to a movie, with my friend of course. Then there was the guy I was friends with whose father would habitually keep him from the phone and talk to me for long periods of time. He too used to ask me out to dinner and the movies, offering to drive me & my friend. Then there was the 'I wish I was still 17' guy who was working on my house who cornered me in the bathroom by 'helping' me open the stuck window in our older home.... pinned me to the window. Thank God my very large brother walked up the stairs at that moment. THen there was the cliche' babysitting job Dad who would tell me how unhappily married he was. All of them ewwwwwwwww!!!! These are just a few stories, the list is pretty long and I'm not shy about sharing them with my kids so they don't feel isolated by the creeps of the world. Thankfully I was smart enough to see the trouble and get out of there. I always tell my kids their greatest weapon in life is their brains.

I'd give my opinion of these sorts of adults but it's not fit for this sort of website.

 

[shrubber]

Scary, Glad everyone is safe.