Online Predators - You Can Never Be Too Careful!
Posted by Bella at 4/21/2011 5:49 PM 
Categories: CRIME, The Internet, Computers, FRAUD, RELATIONSHIPS, Internet Reporting, INJUSTICE, CON ARTIST
Tags: Matchcom Online dating Fraud Prisons Prisoners Online relationships Internet Security Date Rape Sexu
Categories: CRIME, The Internet, Computers, FRAUD, RELATIONSHIPS, Internet Reporting, INJUSTICE, CON ARTIST
Tags: Matchcom Online dating Fraud Prisons Prisoners Online relationships Internet Security Date Rape Sexu
Hello Everyone:
One can never be "too careful" when meeting people via the Internet. Around April 14, 2011, an entertainment executive filed a lawsuit against Match.com because she was sexually assaulted by someone she met on their dating website. Several days later, Match.com announced that it would begin screening applicants against law enforcement databases to determine, if they, in fact, have been convicted of sexually related criminal offenses. My heart really goes out to this woman because given the popularity of online dating websites, it's only a "miracle" that we haven't heard about more of these sort of incidents. I applaud this woman's courage for publicizing her plight because the "victim" is usually subjected to all kinds of "intensive" scrutiny. Legal disclaimers only protect the service provider from "financial" liability not the "client" from potential harm.
I can really relate to the perils of meeting people "online". About 18 months ago, I was contacted by someone who saw my online profile on a dating website. Luckily, the person who contacted me was very honest about his current situation. I almost dropped my blackberry when he told me about his "incarceration" in a state prison not very far from where I live. Of course, the next time he contacted me, I quickly got ride of him because for various reasons, I don't intentionally date criminals. Ever since then, I have been wondering, how did he get access to the Internet behind bars?
Earlier this year, I read an article online, about the persistent problem prison officials are having nationwide with prisoners obtaining smuggled cell phones. Bingo! Many current cell phone models have the ability to access the Internet which would enable anyone to use it. In fact, the problem is so prevalent here in California, that last month a bill was introduced into the California State Legislature to punish cell phone smugglers – employees or visitors – with up to six months in prison and fines up to $5,000 per device. Last year, over 10,000 cell phones were seized in California State Prisons. I have included the link below, if you want to read more about this legislation.
Bill Aims To Punish Smugglers Of Cell Phones To Prisoners
As a well respected Intel Corporation President, CEO and Chairman, Andrew S. Grove has said, "Only the Paranoid Survive". The gist of this statement reinforces the reality that people must be "actively" vigilant in order to move forward into "unknown" territory as a means to maintain their competitive edge. Interacting with people on the Internet is no different. In this day and age, it's very easy for anyone to fabricate an online persona that's not a realistic representation of who they really are. Furthermore, there have been instances in which a person's profile was stolen from a social networking site and used to fabricate a fraudulent profile on a dating website to bilk unsuspecting victims out of thousands of dollars. If the dating profile was casually vetted, it would have came up legitimate in many respects.
Since performing a comprehensive background check of anyone you meet online may cost around $90 and it's not "fool proof", it may be more effective to actually "network" via social introductions through individuals in which you have established "solid" offline relationships. Of course, this approach also has its drawbacks. My personal experience has taught me to be leery of being introduced to men by people who have never visited their homes. People can conceal a great deal about themselves when no one knows where they "actually" live. Once I ended up dating someone who was actually concealing a "wife" and several "girlfriends" because the people who introduced us "never" met his wife or knew exactly where he lived. Our relationship was "somewhat" short-lived because I do value "integrity". The primary goal is to parlay your "online" relationships into "tangible" offline relationships through "reliable" contacts that you "trust". Discussing too much about your life and the lives of your loved ones to total strangers is very unwise and you may live to regret it. Connecting with people via the Internet is an effective way to expand your social circle but everyone you encounter isn't "sincere" or "reliable". However, as a means of doing business, I wouldn't want to live without it as long as the appropriate safeguards are in place.
May Peace Be With All of You,
Sistah Selah
One can never be "too careful" when meeting people via the Internet. Around April 14, 2011, an entertainment executive filed a lawsuit against Match.com because she was sexually assaulted by someone she met on their dating website. Several days later, Match.com announced that it would begin screening applicants against law enforcement databases to determine, if they, in fact, have been convicted of sexually related criminal offenses. My heart really goes out to this woman because given the popularity of online dating websites, it's only a "miracle" that we haven't heard about more of these sort of incidents. I applaud this woman's courage for publicizing her plight because the "victim" is usually subjected to all kinds of "intensive" scrutiny. Legal disclaimers only protect the service provider from "financial" liability not the "client" from potential harm.
I can really relate to the perils of meeting people "online". About 18 months ago, I was contacted by someone who saw my online profile on a dating website. Luckily, the person who contacted me was very honest about his current situation. I almost dropped my blackberry when he told me about his "incarceration" in a state prison not very far from where I live. Of course, the next time he contacted me, I quickly got ride of him because for various reasons, I don't intentionally date criminals. Ever since then, I have been wondering, how did he get access to the Internet behind bars?
Earlier this year, I read an article online, about the persistent problem prison officials are having nationwide with prisoners obtaining smuggled cell phones. Bingo! Many current cell phone models have the ability to access the Internet which would enable anyone to use it. In fact, the problem is so prevalent here in California, that last month a bill was introduced into the California State Legislature to punish cell phone smugglers – employees or visitors – with up to six months in prison and fines up to $5,000 per device. Last year, over 10,000 cell phones were seized in California State Prisons. I have included the link below, if you want to read more about this legislation.
Bill Aims To Punish Smugglers Of Cell Phones To Prisoners
As a well respected Intel Corporation President, CEO and Chairman, Andrew S. Grove has said, "Only the Paranoid Survive". The gist of this statement reinforces the reality that people must be "actively" vigilant in order to move forward into "unknown" territory as a means to maintain their competitive edge. Interacting with people on the Internet is no different. In this day and age, it's very easy for anyone to fabricate an online persona that's not a realistic representation of who they really are. Furthermore, there have been instances in which a person's profile was stolen from a social networking site and used to fabricate a fraudulent profile on a dating website to bilk unsuspecting victims out of thousands of dollars. If the dating profile was casually vetted, it would have came up legitimate in many respects.
Since performing a comprehensive background check of anyone you meet online may cost around $90 and it's not "fool proof", it may be more effective to actually "network" via social introductions through individuals in which you have established "solid" offline relationships. Of course, this approach also has its drawbacks. My personal experience has taught me to be leery of being introduced to men by people who have never visited their homes. People can conceal a great deal about themselves when no one knows where they "actually" live. Once I ended up dating someone who was actually concealing a "wife" and several "girlfriends" because the people who introduced us "never" met his wife or knew exactly where he lived. Our relationship was "somewhat" short-lived because I do value "integrity". The primary goal is to parlay your "online" relationships into "tangible" offline relationships through "reliable" contacts that you "trust". Discussing too much about your life and the lives of your loved ones to total strangers is very unwise and you may live to regret it. Connecting with people via the Internet is an effective way to expand your social circle but everyone you encounter isn't "sincere" or "reliable". However, as a means of doing business, I wouldn't want to live without it as long as the appropriate safeguards are in place.
May Peace Be With All of You,
Sistah Selah
Tell me how to contact the author of this article?
Thanks in advance!
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