VOLUME 15| ISSUE 2

PARTNERS IN CRIME PREVENTION

MARCH/APRIL 2011

INSIDE THIS ISSUE CYBER SECURITY —AN IMPORTANT PART OF MODERN LIFE

CYBER SECURITY 1 The is here and pretty much accept- Eventually, the predator may introduce – AN IMPORTANT PART OF MOD- ed by everyone for communicating with talking about sex to make them more ERN LIFE friends and business associates, for looking comfortable about sex. CYBER SECURITY 2 up information, for shopping, and for enter- – SOCIAL While we receive the benefits of the Internet tainment. NETWORKING we need to be aware of how we can protect

CYBER SECURITY 2 Revealing Too Much. Often though, we re- ourselves from the dangers and we need to – USING SOCIAL veal too much about ourselves online. Chil- teach our children how to protect them- NETWORKING SAFELY dren can be most susceptible about reveal- selves from those dangers. ing too much about themselves and their CYBER SECURITY 3 The National Center for Missing and Exploit- families. They can share your home address, – CYBER ed Children (NCMEC) has a web site, BULLYING their phone numbers, private thoughts, and www.netsmartz.org, that provides hints and pictures. CYBER SECURITY 4 tips on how children can protect themselves – PREDATORS Revealing too much information about your- from the dangers of the Internet. It has edu-

CYBER SECURITY A1 self can open the child and the family to: cational materials for parents, kids (grade – ABBREVIA- school through teens), law enforcement, and TIONS  Scammers– Scammers can use a educators. child’s (and a parent’s) personal infor- mation, such as email addresses and NCMEC also sponsors a tip line for citizens phone numbers, to manipulate them to report crimes against children. If you think with spam, telemarketing, and email your child is a victim of or a scams. sexual predator go to:

 Cyberbullies– Cyberbullies use their www.CyberTipline.com target’s personal information and use it or call: against them. They can copy and change photos; share private emails or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) instant messages; or taunt them with And then notify the Snohomish County Sher- emotional insecurities revealed in iff’s Office. John Lovick, Sheriff or emails. The following link gives a brief overview of Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office  Predators– Predators look for infor- cybersecurity: mation on child victims to groom and 3000 Rockefeller www.netsmartz.org/ manipulate them. A predator will try to M/S 606 StreamingPresentations/ Everett, WA 98201 create trust by the child by being sympa- 425-388-3393 InternetSafetyBasics http://sheriff. snoco.org thetic to their insecurities and conflicts. SNOHOMISH COUNTY PARTNERS IN CRIME PREVENTION | 2

CYBER CYBER SECURITY – SOCI AL NETWORKING SECURITY- Teens use social networking sites Blogs– These online journals or dia- USING SOCIAL (SNS) such as MySpace, Facebook, ries are becoming a common part of NETWORKING many SNS. SAFELY Bebo, and Twitter because they give them: Comment Walls– A popular feature of  Check your child’s friend lists to see  An easy way to share their lives most SNS that allows users to com- who has access to with their friends and family municate through comments left on his or her profile. Make sure your each others’ pages. child knows all  The chance to try on different friends in person. identities and explore new inter- E-mail– Most SNS have an e-mail fea- ture through which users can com-  Teach your child ests to set profiles to municate privately or with select private–but be  A semi-private platform on which groups. aware that privacy settings do not to communicate outside of the Friends Lists– These contact lists are guarantee com- supervision of adults plete privacy. usually comprised of people a child knows offline, but also include friends  Have your child With these benefits, however, also remove any inap- come some risks. Teens on SNS may of friends and others they have only propriate content share personal information which met online. and photos and leaves them vulnerable to people who delete any person- - Some SNS, such al information. want to harm them. They may also as Facebook, have made chat fea- share inappropriate or illegal content  Check the profiles tures available to users. of your child’s which endangers future academic or friends to see if employment opportunities. Under- there is revealing Pictures and Videos– Most SNS allow standing the various ways content can information or pho- users to post a profile picture. Many tos about your be shared can help trusted adults talk also allow users to post photos and child. to teens about ways to stay safer videos to an online ―album.‖  Report inappropri- while using SNS. ate or criminal be- havior to the ap- Status Updates- Users post these propriate authority. Some Social Networking Basic Fea- short sentences to let the people on Most sites have a tures- reporting mecha- their friends list know their actions, nism for non- feelings, and thoughts. criminal behavior. Following are some features that your Criminal behavior child might find on a typical social net- should be reported working site. With a SNS instead of through law- enforcement agen- opening multiple applications, a user cies and the ® can rely on one place to serve all their CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.c communications needs. om. SNOHOMISH COUNTY PARTNERS IN CRIME PREVENTION | 3

HELP PROTECT CYBER SECURITY– CYBERBULLYING CHILDREN FROM BULLYING Cyberbullying has been receiving more through e-mail, text messaging, or publicity in the last few years. According to social networking sites.  Tell your child www.netsmartz.org: not to respond to Here are some signs your child may rude e-mails, messages, and Cyberbullying is just what it sounds like - be a victim of cyberbullying: comments. bullying through Internet applications and  Avoids the computer, cell phone,  Save the evi- technologies such as instant messaging and other technological devices dence, such as (IM), social networking sites, and cell or appears stressed when receiv- email and text phones. It can start easily—with a rumor, a ing an e-mail, instant message, or messages, and text take screenshots photo, or a forwarded message—and just of comments and as easily spiral out of control. An embar-  Withdraws from family and images. Also, rassing video posted to a social networking friends or acts reluctant to attend take note of the school and social events date and time site by someone in Kansas tonight may be when the harass- watched by someone in Japan tomorrow.  Avoids conversations about com- ment occurs. Cyberbullying victims may be targeted any- puter use  Contact your where, at any time. Internet service  Exhibits signs of low self-esteem provider (ISP) or including depression and/or fear Common forms of cyberbullying include: cell phone pro- vider. Ask the  Has declining grades website adminis- and Trolling – sending or posting  Has poor eating or sleeping habits trator or ISP to hostile messages intended to ―inflame‖ remove any Web the emotions of others. For more information about cyberbul- page created to lying read: hurt your child. Happy-Slapping – recording someone be-  If harassment is ing harassed or bullied in a way that usual- Hinduja, S., Patchin J. Bullying Be- via e-mail, so- yond the Schoolyard: Preventing and cial networking ly involves physical , then posting the sites, IM, and video online for public viewing. Responding to Cyberbullying. Thou- chat rooms, sand Oaks: Corwin Press, 2009. instruct your Identity Theft/Impersonation – stealing child to “block” someone’s password and/or hijacking For more information take a look at bullies or delete this: your child’s cur- their online accounts to send or post in- rent account and criminating or humiliating pictures, videos, www.netsmartz.org/cyberbullying open a new one. or information.  If harrassment is via text and Photoshopping – doctoring digital images phone messag- es, change the so that the main subject is placed in a phone number compromising or embarrassing situation. Report Cyberbullying to and instruct your child to only Physical Threats – sending messages that www.cybertipline.com share the new involve threats to a person’s physical safe- and the Snohomish number with trustworthy peo- ty. County Sheriff’s Office ple.

Rumor Spreading – spreading gossip

SNOHOMISH COUNTY PARTNERS IN CRIME PREVENTION | 4

CRIME PREVENTION CYBER SECURITY– PREDATORS COORDINATORS

The Internet did not create child predators, parent or guardian, but there are warning OFFICE OF COMMUNITY but it does increase the opportunities preda- signs that can help identify a child who has PARTNERSHIPS neighborhoodwatch@ tors have to meet victims while minimizing faced a situation of online victimization. If a snoco.org detection. Predators can communicate with child discloses to you that they have been children anonymously through a variety of exploited, reassure him or her that talking NORTH PRECINCT ways including instant messaging, social to an adult is the right action to take and Deputy Daniel Johnson networking sites, chat rooms, message divert any blame away from the victim. 425-388-5231 [email protected] boards, and even cell phones. Warning Signs of Grooming or Exploitation Grooming in your Child SOUTH PRECINCT Deputy Will Ter-Veen Predators take advantage of a child’s natu-  Spends an excessive amount of time 425-388-5277 ral vulnerabilities, such as their desire to on the computer [email protected] appear adult or their need for attention.  Becomes angry when he or she cannot ―Grooming‖ is the process through which get on the computer predators play on these vulnerabilities by offering children gifts and attention.  Withdraws from family and friends

Grooming can be a long process that a pa-  Minimizes the screen or turns off the tient and tenacious predator has planned monitor when you come into the room and perfected to gain a child’s trust. This  Inappropriate images or websites on grooming may lead to the child’s willingness NEWSLETTER INFO the computer to meet the person with whom he or she is

chatting. Offenders will often entice a child  Strange phone numbers on your tele- EDITOR into a face-to-face meeting by: phone bill Steve Moller

 Exploiting a child’s natural curiosity  Gifts in the mail from someone you If you have questions regard- about sex don’t know, such as webcams or cell ing this newsletter or any phones articles that appear in it,  Lowering the child’s inhibitions by grad- please contact the editor at ually introducing explicit images and For more about online predators, go to: neighborhoodwatch@ child sex abuse images http://www.netsmartz.org/ snoco.org  Using his or her adult status to influ- Predators . ence and control a child’s behavior

 Offering attention and affection  Betraying a child’s trust by manipulating his or her emotions and insecurities

Guarding Against Predators

Children who experience online victimization may not share personal details with their

TIPTIP LINES Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office: 425 -388-3845

http://www.snoco.org/app/ssh/anonymoustips/

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound: 1 -800-222-8477 SNOHOMISH COUNTY PARTNERS IN CRIME PREVENTION | APPENDIX 1

CYBER SECURITY– TOP INTERNET ABBREVIATIONS PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

Children communicate in more ways now KFY -or- K4Y - Kiss For You than their parents did. They frequently KPC - Keeping Parents Clueless abbreviate words and phrases to get LMIRL - Let's Meet In Real Life around limitations of keyboards and ser- vices. Here are some abbreviations that MOOS - Member Of The Opposite Sex you might see (some of the following ab- MOSS - Member(s) Of The Same Sex breviations are sexually graphic or use MorF - Male or Female strong language and may not be appropri- MOS - Mom Over Shoulder ate for children): MPFB - My Personal F*** Buddy 8 - Oral sex NALOPKT - Not A Lot Of People Know That 1337 - Elite -or- -or- L337 NIFOC - Nude In Front Of The Computer 143 - I love you NMU - Not Much, You? 182 - I hate you P911 - Parent Alert 1174 - Nude club PAL - Parents Are Listening 420 - Marijuana 2moro - Tomorrow 459 - I love you 2nite - Tonight ADR - Address BRB - Be Right Back AEAP - As Early As Possible BTW - By The Way ALAP - As Late As Possible B4N - Bye For Now ASL - Age/Sex/Location BCNU - Be Seeing You CD9 - Code 9 - it means parents are around BFF - Best Friends Forever C-P - Sleepy CYA - Cover Your Ass -or- See Ya F2F - Face-to-Face DBEYR - Don't Believe Everything You Read GNOC - Get Naked On Cam DILLIGAS - Do I Look Like I Give A Sh** GYPO - Get Your Pants Off FUD - Fear, Uncertainty, and Disinfor- HAK - Hugs And Kisses mation ILU - I Love You FWIW - For What It's Worth IWSN - I Want Sex Now GR8 - Great J/O - Jerking Off ILY - I Love You KOTL - Kiss On The Lips

TIPTIP LINES Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office: 425 -388-3845

http://www.snoco.org/app/ssh/anonymoustips/

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound: 1 -800-222-8477 SNOHOMISH COUNTY PARTNERS IN CRIME PREVENTION | APPENDIX 2

CYBER SECURITY– PREDATORS

IMHO - In My Humble Opinion TLC - Tender Loving Care IRL - In Real Life TMI - Too Much Information ISO - In Search Of TTYL - Talk To You Later -or- Type To You J/K - Just Kidding Later L8R - Later TYVM - Thank You Very Much LMAO - Laughing My Ass Off VBG - Very Big Grin LOL - Laughing Out Loud -or- Lots Of Love WEG - Wicked Evil Grin LYLAS - Love You Like A Sister WTF - What The F*** MHOTY - My Hat's Off To You WYWH - Wish You Were Here NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard XOXO - Hugs and Kisses NP - No Problem -or- Nosy Parents PAW - Parents Are Watching NUB - New person to a site or game PIR - Parent In Room OIC - Oh, I See POS - Parent Over Shoulder -or- Piece Of Sh** OMG - Oh My God pron - porn OT - Off Topic

Q2C - Quick To C** POV - Point Of View RU/18 - Are You Over 18? RBTL - Read Between The Lines RUMORF - Are You Male OR Female? ROTFLMAO - Rolling On The Floor Laugh- ing My Ass Off RUH - Are You Horny? RT - Real Time S2R - Send To Receive THX or TX or THKS - Thanks SorG - Straight or Gay SH - Sh** Happens TDTM - Talk Dirty To Me SITD - Still In The Dark WTF - What The F*** SOL - Sh** Out of Luck WUF - Where You From STBY - Sucks To Be You WYCM - Will You Call Me? SWAK - Sealed (or Sent) With A Kiss WYRN - What's Your Real Name? TFH - Thread From Hell zerg - To gang up on someone RTM or RTFM - Read The Manual -or- Read The F***ing Manual

TIPTIP LINES Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office: 425 -388-3845

http://www.snoco.org/app/ssh/anonymoustips/

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound: 1 -800-222-8477