AMBER ALERT 2010 BLOG

more information visit www.cybertipline.com or call 1-800-843-5678.

help teach kids how to be safer online and in the real world. For more information visit www.NetSmartz.org.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2011-MC-CX-K001 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. This document is provided

for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional opinion on specific

facts. Information provided in this document may not remain current or accurate, so recipients should use

this document only as a starting point for their own independent research and analysis. If legal advice or

other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Points of

view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official

for Missing & Exploited Children. NCMEC Order #168.

Copyright © 2006, 2009, and 2011 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.

Special thanks to Larry Magid, author of two earlier NCMEC brochures about this topic.

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Allowing kids to go online without

supervision or ground rules is like

allowing them to explore a major

metropolitan area by themselves.

The Internet offers an enormous

array of entertainment and educational

resources but also presents

potential risks. Kids need help

navigating this world.

Connect to the Internet from a computer at home, a library, school, or

friend’s home

Connect from anywhere using laptops, cell phones, handheld devices,

and other wireless devices

Compete against and chat with players around the world using Internetenabled

gaming systems

Exchange messages, photos, and videos via the Internet at any time

You cannot watch your kids every minute, but you can use strategies to help

them benefit from the Internet and avoid its potential risks.

By exploring the Internet with your kids, you greatly expand its capacity as

an educational tool. By providing guidance and discussion along the way,

you increase their online skills and confidence along with their ability to

avoid potential risks. And you might be surprised by what kids teach you at

the same time.

In general, kids

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 81% of children as young

as 3 years old are using the Internet. That percentage continues to increase

with age with the highest percentage of usage at 88% for children age 15

www.nces.ed.gov/pubs2011/2011015.pdf.

Kids may come across websites containing adult images or demeaning,

racist, sexist, violent, or false information.

Kids may find it difficult to determine the credibility or reliability of

information found on the Internet. Some mistakenly believe because

something is posted online it must be true.

Potential Risks

urges you to do perhaps the most important thing to promote online

safety — have a conversation with your kids about the rewards and potential

(638-7411) to learn more about online safety.

It is up to parents and guardians to assess the potential risks and benefits

of permitting their kids to use the Internet and wireless devices.

Choose an Internet browser with safety options appropriate for your

family. There are browsers that are specifically designed for kids, as well

as browsers that offer safer and age-appropriate filtering options. Many

electronic service providers (ESPs) offer free filters to help prevent kids

from accessing inappropriate websites. Contact your ESP to learn what

Internet-safety options are available.

Teach your kids that if they see any material which makes them feel

scared, uncomfortable, or confused to immediately tell you or another

trusted adult. A trusted adult is a person you have come to rely on and

with whom you and your kids feel comfortable.

Help your kids find information online. By searching the Internet together

you can help them find reliable sources of information and distinguish

fact from fiction.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

A survey of 12 to 17 year olds revealed 38% had posted self-created content

olds revealed 46% admit to having given out their personal information

to someone they did not know. The likelihood kids will give out personal

information over the Web increases with age with 56% of 16 to 17 year olds

at www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults.aspx.

October 10, 2011, at www.safekids.com/mcafee_harris.pdf.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

Social-networking websites often ask users to post a profile with their

age, sex, hobbies, and interests. While these profiles help kids connect

and share common interests, individuals who want to victimize kids can

use those online profiles to search for potential victims.

Kids sometimes compete to see who has the greatest number of

contacts and will add new people to their lists even if they do not know

them in real life.

Potential Risks

Kids cannot “take back” the online text and

images they post. Kids may display images or write

information that is provocative, harmful, and/or

inappropriate. Online Web postings are accessible

by the public. Individuals who have access to this

information can save and forward these postings

to an unlimited number of users. Talk to your kids

about how once images are posted online they

lose control of them and can never get them

back. Only allow your kids to post photos or any

type of personally identifying information on

websites with your knowledge and consent.

Kids may not realize the potential ramifications

of their online activities. They can face consequences for posting

harmful, explicit, dangerous, or demeaning information online including

being humiliated in front of their families and peers, suspended from

school, charged criminally, and denied employment or entry into schools.

Instruct your kids to use privacy settings to restrict access to profiles so

only the individuals on their contact lists are able to view their profiles.

Remind kids to only add people they know in real life to their contact lists.

Kids can set up private accounts through free Web-based, e-mail

services without asking permission from parents or guardians.

People using e-mail are vulnerable to receiving “spam” messages.

Individuals or companies send spam e-mails to encourage recipients

to buy something, do something, or visit a particular website. Additionally,

spam e-mail can include sexually suggestive or otherwise offensive

material. Spam e-mails may also have attachments or links containing

viruses that could be harmful if downloaded.

Encourage kids to choose appropriate screennames or nicknames. Talk

to your kids about creating strong passwords, such as those that use the

first letter of each word of a phrase or an easy-to-remember acronym.

Visit social-networking websites with your kids, and exchange ideas

about OK versus potentially risky websites.

Ask your kids about the people they are communicating with online.

Make it a rule with your kids that they can never give out personal

information or meet anyone in person without your prior knowledge

and consent. If you want to consider a meeting, talk to the other kid’s

parents/guardians. If you agree to the meeting, accompany your kids and

meet with the other kid and his or her parents/guardians in a public place.

Encourage your kids to think “Is this message harmful, dangerous,

hurtful, or rude?” before posting or sending anything online. Teach your

kids not to respond to any rude or harassing remarks or messages that

make them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused and to show you

these messages instead.

Potential Risks

Senders sometimes disguise themselves and pretend to be someone

else — a friend or acquaintance, a well-known bank, a government

agency — in an attempt to obtain your personal or financial information.

This is known as phishing.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

Talk with your kids about their e-mail accounts and the potential risks

involved. Remind them to never share their passwords with anyone

but you, not even their closest friends.

Teach kids not to open spam or e-mails

from people they do not know in real

life and who have not been approved

by you. Remind them not to respond to

any online communication in a sexually

provocative way. Tell them to show you

any suspicious communications.

Report to your service provider any e-mails

your kids receive containing threats or

material making them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

Your provider’s address is usually found on their home page.

Potential Risks

IM is one method used to bully, harass, or intimidate others. It may also

be used to engage kids in a sexually explicit conversation. IM interactions

may go from an innocent conversation to a sexually explicit or otherwise

inappropriate exchange without warning.

Remind kids to IM only people they know in real life and who have been

approved by you.

Use privacy settings to limit contact to only those individuals included on

your kid’s buddy list. Make sure other users cannot search for your kids

by using their e-mail addresses and/or usernames.

Make sure your kids and you are familiar with the blocking features

available on most IM services. Tell your kids to block any sender they

do not know in real life who IMs them.

Take the time to learn the chat abbreviations used by kids so you understand

what they are talking about with each other. If you have trouble translating

your kids’ online chat, visit www.NetSmartz411.org and search for “acronyms.”

There you will find a list of popular online terms and abbreviations.

Cell phones make it easy for kids to communicate with others without

their parents’ or guardians’ knowledge.

Some kids are now using cell phones and wireless devices to take

sexually explicit photos of themselves or other kids and send the images

to others. Once sent, there is no way to retrieve these photos or stop

them from being forwarded to additional people. Images posted online

can circulate forever, which damages the kid’s reputation, and can even

be used by offenders in an attempt to victimize other kids.

Kids may also take embarrassing or revealing photos of others and

post them online as a form of bullying.

Potential Risks

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

Create rules and set limits about the appropriate use of cell phones and

wireless devices including who your kids may communicate with and

when they may use these devices.

Review cell-phone records for any unknown numbers and late-night

calls or text messages.

Teach your kids to never post their cell phone number online.

Talk to your kids about the possible implications of sending sexually

explicit or provocative images of themselves or others.

Consider removing or disabling the Internet features from your kid’s cell

phone and wireless device through your service provider or creating settings

to control or prohibit access to the Internet, e-mail, or text messaging.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

Capturing and saving webcam sessions and photos is easy and users

may continue to circulate those images online. People may believe they

are interacting with trusted friends but later find their images distributed

to others or posted on websites.

Capturing, sending, and posting sexually provocative and inappropriate images

may lead to legal implications and other unexpected offline consequences.

Potential Risks

Remind your kids to only use webcams or post photos online with your

knowledge and supervision.

Remind your kids to ask themselves if they would be embarrassed if

their friends or family members saw the photos or videos they post

online. If the answer is yes, then they need to stop.

Remind kids to be aware of what is in the camera’s field of vision and

remember to turn the camera off when it is not in use.

Tell your kids to never post identity-revealing or sexually provocative

photos. Remind them once such images are posted they lose control

of them and can never get them back.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

Because kids often game online with people they do not know in real life, you

should speak with them about what information is appropriate to share.

As with IM or social-networking websites, kids may be exposed to inappropriate

language, harassed, threatened, or asked sexually explicit questions.

Potential Risks

Because we use the Internet in different ways, kids and adults may

learn from each other. By talking about Internet use with your kids,

you are opening the door to discussing the important issues of

personal safety and helping them engage in responsible behavior.

Use this brochure as a starting point, or visit www.NetSmartz.org to

find safety resources for both kids and adults such as “Your Photo

Fate.” This powerful video is designed to help teens understand

the consequences of posting and sharing inappropriate information

and images. For more information visit www.NetSmartz.org/

RealLifeStories and click on the link to “Your Photo Fate.”

Keep the gaming console and computer in a common area of the home so

you are able to monitor your kids’ online communications more closely.

Set rules, including how long your kids may play the games, with whom

they are allowed to play, and what types of games are appropriate.

Help your kids choose appropriate screennames or usernames. A

screenname should never reveal any identifying information especially

such things as name, age, location, year of birth, school name, and

year of graduation. Talk to your kids about creating a strong password,

such as one that uses the first letter of each word of a phrase or an

easy-to-remember acronym.

Review the games’ rating systems to help you decide which games to

allow in your home.

Look into what types of protections or parental controls the gaming

console allows and make use of them. Teach your kids to only video

chat or IM with people they know in real life.

Tips to Minimize Potential Risks

By setting aside time to go online with your kids you not only become more

aware of what they do online, you also reinforce positive Internet skills. Helping

your kids with a research project is a great opportunity for them to learn

about which websites provide reliable information. When looking at e-mails

together ask, “Are these people who they seem to be?” These are prime

opportunities to help kids develop their critical-thinking skills.

Work with your kids to develop reasonable rules. Posting clear, simple,

easy-to-read rules is an excellent way to set boundaries for your kids’

Internet use. Consider signing the rules with your kids and periodically

reviewing them together. Rules should include limitations on the time of

day they go online, the length of time they spend online, the people they

may communicate with while online, and the appropriate areas for them

to visit while online. Explain to your kids why these rules are important.

It is important to reassure kids if they encounter problems online or view

something disturbing, it is not their fault. Discussing these issues openly

may reduce their fear of going to you if they encounter something online

that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Reassure your

kids and let them know if they share the experience with you, you will try

to help and will not punish them. At the same time you can help your kids

Software and services are available to help parents and guardians set

limits on kids’ Internet use. Most computer-operating systems have optional

filters allowing parents and guardians to block websites they consider

inappropriate. Some services rate websites for content. Some programs

prevent users from entering information such as names and addresses,

and others keep kids away from chatrooms or restrict their ability to send

or read e-mail. Monitoring programs allow you to see where your kids go

online. But remember these programs and services are not substitutes for

parental/guardian communication, supervision, and involvement.

NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational

safety program providing age-appropriate

resources to help teach kids how to be

safer online and in the real world.

understand what happened and avoid similar situations in the future. If

your kids or anyone in your home receives pornography depicting children

or has been sexually solicited or received sexually explicit images from

someone who knows the recipient is younger than 18, immediately report

the information to local law enforcement and follow their instructions.

You should keep the computer or cell-phone screen turned off in order

to preserve any evidence for future law-enforcement use. Do not copy

any of the images and/or text. You should also report the incident to the

NetSmartz is designed to be

used in homes, schools, and

communities. It provides

parents, guardians, educators, community

leaders, and law-enforcement officials with a

wide variety of resources including activity cards,

games, presentations, safety pledges, and videos.

reporting mechanism for tips and leads relating to child sexual

exploitation. Members of the public and electronic service providers

can report to the CyberTipline instances of sexually based crimes

committed against children including the possession, manufacture,

and distribution of child pornography; online enticement of children

for sexual acts; child prostitution; sex tourism involving children;

extra-familial child sexual molestation; unsolicited obscene material

sent to a child; and the use of misleading domain names, words,

or digital images on the Internet. NCMEC processes and analyzes

each CyberTipline report and makes the reports available to law

enforcement for potential investigation and prosecution as appropriate.

To make a report to the CyberTipline, visit www.cybertipline.com or call

1-800-843-5678.

NetSmartz411 is the leading Internet-safety helpdesk and hotline for

answers to parents’ and guardians’ questions about Internet safety,

technology, and the Web. This free service is provided by NCMEC and

www.NetSmartz411.org.

The website contains a searchable knowledgebase of frequently

asked questions regarding technology and the Internet, along with

the opportunity to ask questions of experts. You may get answers to

your direct questions by asking online at www.NetSmartz411.org or

by calling at 1-888-NETS411 (638-7411).

NetSmartz411

These resources help trusted adults build kids’ safety awareness,

prevent their victimization, and increase their self-confidence online

and in the real world. You may download these free resources

at www.NetSmartz.org.

If you have information to help NCMEC in the fight against child sexual

exploitation, report it to the CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com

or 1-800-843-5678.

Discussion points for your family about online and real-world safety

Informative statistics about kids’ Internet use

Safety tips for addressing risks to kids online and in the real world

At-home activities for talking about safety during teachable moments

Begin a dialogue with your kids about safer Internet use and

supervise their online activities

Consider rating, blocking, monitoring, and filtering applications for

your home computer and kids’ wireless devices

Make Internet use a family activity

Encourage your kids’ critical-thinking skills

Set reasonable rules for going online

Encourage your kids to tell you or another trusted adult when they

encounter problems online

Make a report to NCMEC’s CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com or

1-800-843-5678 if your kids receive images of a sexual nature

Visit www.NetSmartz.org for a wealth of additional safety resources including

Visit www.NetSmartz411.org for answers to commonly asked questions

about the Internet, computers, or the Web or to ask specific questions

of experts

This Checklist provides an investigative framework for officers when coming in contact with unsupervised

make educated decisions when helping to safeguard unsupervised and/or runaway children. Officers

are encouraged to rely on the laws in their jurisdiction as well as their intuition and experience when

making decisions regarding the best interest of the child and community.

The initial phase of the field interview should be conducted in a manner so as to establish the child’s

statements, which will form the basis in assessing the child’s level of risk.

conducting the field interview(s).

[ ] Obtain identifying information, such as name and address, and descriptors such as height,

weight, and age. Remember the child may be reluctant to provide the information or may provide

incorrect information.

[ ] Query information obtained through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Crime

Information Center’s (NCIC) database and the state/territorial law-enforcement system counterpart.

If a record is located, determine the child’s status, such as missing or a charged offense, and

determine whether grounds exist to immediately place the child in protective custody and transport

the child for proper investigative follow-up, placement, or disposition. If no record is located,

proceed with the field interview.

[ ] Who have you associated with while on the street?

[ ] What is your relationship with this/these individual(s)?

[ ] Where have you stayed?

[ ] With whom have you stayed?

[ ] How long have you stayed with them?

[ ] How long have you spent time on the street, and what have you done while on the street?

someone may be looking for him or her. Focus on deviations in behavior, both verbal and non-verbal,

exhibited by the child during this initial interview phase. Keep in mind the child may be deceptive

or fail to disclose information due to concerns such as fear, intimidation, or threats of reprisal.

him or her for proper investigative follow-up, placement, or disposition.

remain unsupervised. Continue to look for discrepancies in information obtained in the initial phase

of the field interview with information obtained during the second phase of the interview.

[ ] Full name.

[ ] Nickname(s).

[ ] Full physical description to include clothing, body piercings, tattoos, and any personal items

on personal items.

necessary to protect themselves from exploitation on the streets.

[ ] Place of birth.

[ ] Addresses, both current and prior.

[ ] Home phone number.

[ ] Cell phone number.

[ ] Name of school attending or has attended.

[ ] Date last attended school.

[ ] Employment information, if the child is employed, including name, address, and phone

number of the employer.

child at

[ ] Home.

[ ] School.

[ ] Ask the child if he or she is under the care of a doctor. If so obtain the doctor’s name, address,

and phone number.

[ ] Determine if the child is taking any prescription medication and/or other drugs, ranging from

over-the-counter medications to illegal substances, and if he or she is in possession of any. Note

any drug dependencies putting the child at risk.

[ ] Ask the child if he or she has been involved in or the victim of any crimes since leaving home.

Potential risk factors and/or indicators of trafficking and exploitation include

[ ] History of emotional, sexual, or other physical abuse.

[ ] Signs of current physical abuse and/or sexually transmitted diseases.

[ ] History of running away or current status as a runaway.

[ ] Appearance of expensive gifts, clothing, or other costly items with no valid explanation of

their source.

[ ] Presence of an older boy-/girlfriend.

[ ] Drug addiction.

[ ] Withdrawal or lack of interest in previous activities.

[ ] Gang involvement.

[ ] Ask the child for information about family members, both immediate and extended, including

name, address, home/business phone number(s), and place(s) of employment.

[ ] Determine the relationship(s) the child has with the identified family members.

[ ] Identify and explore any dysfunctional relationships between family member(s) and the child. Keep

in mind the child may have left home due to mental, physical, or sexual abuse or exploitation at

the hands of a family member or individual otherwise known to the child.

[ ] Ask the child to provide names, addresses, and phone numbers of friends who live or lived nearby

and those with whom he or she attends or attended school.

[ ] Identify and determine if the child is out of his or her zone of safety based on the child’s age, the

child’s level of maturity, and environment in which the child is found. If so consider placing the

child in protective custody and transporting the child for proper investigative follow-up, placement,

or disposition.

Additional information must be obtained, based on the initial and secondary information gathered, in

order to make a determination about allowing the child to remain unsupervised or placing the child

in protective custody.

[ ] Ask communications to check for any prior contact or calls for service with the child or child’s

family members

[ ] Check with surrounding jurisdictions for prior contact with the child and the child’s family members

(1-800-843-5678) for previous intake or new intake of information regarding reports of missing

and/or sexually exploited children

[ ] Check with the appropriate state/territorial missing-child (person) clearinghouse(s) for any prior

contact with the child or the child’s family members

[ ] Check with the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)

[ ] Contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 for assistance

in cases of trafficking

[ ] Query NCIC utilizing non-unique identifiers

[ ] Check with social services for prior contact with the child or the child’s family members

[ ] Check with homeless shelters for any prior contact with the child

[ ] Check with the person/people the child identified as the last one(s) to see him or her at home

[ ] Check with the person/people the child identified as the last one(s) to see him or her at school

[ ] Check with the child’s family members to obtain additional information about the child

[ ] Check with the child’s friends to obtain additional information about the child

[ ] Check with the child’s school to obtain additional information about the child

[ ] Check with the child’s place of employment, if employed, to obtain additional information about

the child