The following is off-topic (NOT list related) but it is not the first report of this kind -- anyone reading Newsweek and the papers knows of another instance where a teacher from New York got in contact with a teenager from Florida to sexual acts, etc. -- It is just a gentle reminder that no matter WHAT you give out on the internet, lists, messages, etc. you should really "watch what you say" -- the sum of the parts equals the total./Judy M. > ---------- >From: > >The following story should help us understand the importance of information >security. We really never know who might be watching what we send e-mail or >otherwise. > ---------- >From: > >>>If you know someone with kids, you might want to pass this on to >>>them. Please take the time to read this and discuss it with your >>>kids. I know that we all live in an environment that sometimes >>>gives our daughters and sons a false sense of security that nothing >>>could ever happen to them. >>> >>>But this should be a reality check for all of us that no one is >>>immune. >>> >>>[Please read and pass it on to your kids and friends] >>>------------------------------------------------ >>> >>>Shannon could hear the footsteps behind her as she walked toward >>>home. The thought of being followed made her heart beat faster. >>>"You're being silly," she told herself, "no one is following you." >>>To be safe, she began to walk faster, but the footsteps kept up >>>with her pace. She was afraid to look back and she was glad she >>>was almost home. >>> >>>Shannon said a quick prayer, "God please get me home safe." She >>>saw the porch light burning and ran the rest of the way to her house. >>>Once inside, she leaned against the door for a moment - relieved to >>>be in the safety of her home. She glanced out the window to see if >>>anyone was there. The sidewalk was empty. >>> >>>After tossing her books on the sofa she decided to grab a snack and >>>get on line. There she could talk to strangers without being afraid. >>>After all, no one knew who she really was and couldn't hurt her. >>> >>>She logged on under her screen name "ByAngel213." Checking her Buddy >>>List, she saw "GoTo123" was on. She sent him an instant message: >>> >>>ByAngel213: Hi, I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following >>> me home today. It was really weird! >>> >>>GoTo123: You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? >>> Don't you live in a safe neighborhood? >>> >>>ByAngel213: Of course I do. I guess it was my imagination 'cause I >>> didn't see anybody when I looked out. >>> >>>GoTo123: Unless you gave your name out on line - you haven't done >>> that have you? >>> >>>ByAngel213: Of course not. I'm not stupid you know. >>> >>>GoTo123: Did you have a softball game after school today? >>> >>>ByAngel213: Yes and we won!! >>> >>>GoTo123: That's great! Who did you play? >>> >>>ByAngel213: We played the Hornets Their uniforms are so gross! >>> They look like bees. >>> >>>GoTo123: What is your team called? >>> >>>ByAngel213: We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our >>> uniforms. They are really kewl. >>> >>>GoTo123: Do you pitch or what? >>> >>>ByAngel213: No. I play second base. I got to go. . . My >>> homework has to be done before my parents get home. >>> I don't want them mad at me. Bye. >>> >>>GoTo123: Catch you later. . . Bye. >>> >>> >>>GoTo123 decided it was time to teach Angel a lesson, one she would >>>never forget. He went to the member menu and began to search for her >>>profile. >>> >>>When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out >>>a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far. >>>Her name: Shannon >>>Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985 / age:13 >>>State where she lived: North Carolina >>>Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall. >>>Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton. She had >>>just told him she stayed by herself until 6:30 every afternoon until >>>her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on >>>Thursday afternoons on the school team and the team was named >>>the Canton Cats. >>> >>>Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He knew she was >>>in the seventh grade at the Canton Junior High School. She had told >>>him all this in the conversations they had on line. He had enough >>>information to find her now. >>> >>>"She'll be so surprised," he thought, "she doesn't even know what >>>she has done." >>> >>>Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home >>>from the ball park that day. She didn't want them to make a scene >>>and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were >>>always over-reacting and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was >>>not >>>an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters her parents >>>wouldn't be so over-protective. >>> >>>By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following >>>her. Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone >>>staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up >>>from >>>her second base position to see a man watching her closely. He was >>>leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she >>>looked at him. >>> >>>He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissed the fear she had >>>felt. After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the >>>coach. >>>She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded, >>>and she smiled back. He noticed her name on back of the shirt. He knew >>>he had found her. Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. He >>>didn't want to frighten her and have to explain what he was doing to >>>anyone. >>> >>>It was only a few blocks to Shannon's home and once he saw where she >>>lived, he quickly returned to the park to get his car. Now he had >>>to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go >>>to Shannon's house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there >>>until time to make his move. >>> >>>Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in >>>the living room. "Shannon, come here," her father called. He >>>sounded upset and she couldn't imagine why. She went into the room and >>>saw >>>the man from the ball-park sitting on the sofa. "Sit down," her father >>>began, "this man is a policeman and he has just told us a most >>>interesting story about you." Shannon moved cautiously to a chair >>>across from >>>the man. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen >>>him before today! >>> >>>"Do you know who I am Shannon?", the man asked. "No", Shannon >>>answered. >>> >>>"I am your on-line friend, GoTo123." >>> >>>Shannon was stunned. "That's impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! >>>He's 14 and he lives in Michigan!" >>> >>>The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but it wasn't true. >>>You see Shannon, there are people on-line who pretend to be kids. I was >>>one of them. But, while others do it to find kids and hurt them, I >>>belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. >>>I >>>came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to give out too >>>much information to people on line. You told me enough about yourself >>>to >>>make it easy for me to find you. Your name, the school you went to, >>>the name of your ball team and the position you played. The number and >>>name on your jersey just made finding you a breeze." >>> >>>Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in Michigan?" He >>>laughed. >>> >>>"No, I live in Raleigh. It made you feel safe to think I was so >>>far away, didn't it?" She nodded. >>> >>> >>>"I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as >>>lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone. >>>Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it >>>all >>>the time on-line. >>> >>>The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here >>>and there on-line. Before you know it, you have told them enough for >>>them to find you without even realizing you have done it. I hope >>>you've learned a lesson from this and won't do it again." "I won't," >>>Shannon promised solemnly. >>> >>>"Will you tell others about this so they will be safe too?" "It's a >>>promise!" That night Shannon and her dad and Mom all knelt down >>>together and prayed. >>> >>>They thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a >>>tragic situation. >>>""""""""""""""""""""""" >>> >>>Please send this to as many people as you can to teach them not to >>>give any information about themselves. This world we live in today >>>is too dangerous to even give out your age, let alone anything else. Be >>>safe. > >