by Trisha Navarro

Created on: January 18, 2010   Last Updated: January 19, 2010

The scariest thing ever is finding out the man that you have been chatting with and feel you are in love with and know he's the right one, despite your friends telling you to be careful, then you find out that he was a predator. So many people have fallen into their traps, their lies and the words that are being typed on the computer every day. Who are the ones that are mostly being trapped by predators? I would say that it is mostly teenagers. Predators prey on young boys and girls. Thinking that they can befriend that teenager, by being there for them, listening to their problems and feel that they can reel them in that way.

How does the predator work. First they will try to go out looking for their target and by looking I mean through going in on chat lines where young people are found. Looking for their next target,  whoever they may be and however old or young they may be. Once they find that particular person that they can prey on then it would be on to the next thing.

Second step is befriending that teenager. Being their friend, being there for them when they need someone to talk to and most of the time teenagers will want to talk about their problems from things going on with their friends and family. This predator most likely will have the teen that is being preyed on think that they are the same age as them, or other times they will outright just tell them their exact age.

Then they will reel them in even more in a romantic relationship. Letting them know that they love them and that they will always be there for them. They will begin to ask for their phone number and pictures. Most of the time during this situation, teens will actually believe that these people do love them and that no one else will care about them or their feelings not even their parents. That they do not understand where they are coming from and that they will never understand.

Most of the time after the romantic stage, then the predator will discuss meeting and will ask for specific pictures of the prey that they are preying on.

Not only are predators online to prey on children, there are other predators on line that like to prey on people for money. They will either try befriending the person first as the same as the teenager and then eventually worm their way into trying to get money out of them.

A personal experience of mine is where one person that I was dating on the internet a few years back, befriended me and then worked his way into a romantic relationship. Then eventually decided that he would start asking for money from me, although we have not known each other for very long. 

You have to be very leery of people such as that those that ask for money right away, but they claim that they love you and you hardly know them. For parents of teenagers, the best thing is to watch your child's internet usage and go from there. Don't allow your child to spend long periods of time on the internet and also, I think that a lot of parents allow their teenagers to have a computer in their bedroom, which could lead to a lot of secretive things and things that you would never know about. It;s always best to have the computer in the family room, out in the open.

In any internet situation, you have to be careful, and be aware of the people who you chat with and claim to love you. Never give out certain information, private information for that fact. Such as your address or your phone number, your social security number or your credit card.

Being safe on the internet is important in all aspects, and you should be careful to not fall into a predator's trap.

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