INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
TASK FORCE (ICAC):
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Internet
Crimes Against Children Task Force conducts online investigations targeting
child pornographers and sexual predators of children. It is spearheaded by
Washoe County Detectives who work with members of the FBI, Customs (ICE), and
various other law enforcement agencies.
Children are being sexually exploited,
kidnapped, molested and solicited by individuals using online services. One
reason is the anonymous nature of the Internet. Another reason is the large
number of people using the Internet. On-Line Child Predators contact children
on the Internet through E-mail messages, Instant Messages, electronic
bulletin boards (BBS) and public chat rooms. There are a number of ways parents can protect their children from
becoming victims of these predators on the Internet.
The following are some examples:
- Choose an online service that offers parental
control features.
- Purchase blocking software and design your own
safety system.
- Monitor your children online and monitor the
time they spend online.
- Ensure children never reveal identifying
information about themselves on the Internet, in a public chat room, on
an electronic bulletin board or in their E-mail messages.
- Ensure children do not give out personal
information about themselves such as their age.
- Get to know the services your child uses.
- Block out objectionable material through your
Internet Service Provider (ISP).
- Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face
meeting with another computer user without parental permission.
- Ensure children never respond to messages or
bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent or
threatening. Encourage your children to tell you whenever they encounter
such messages.
- If you or your children receive a message that
is harassing, sexual in nature, or threatening, forward a copy to the
message to your ISP and ask for their assistance.
- Teach your children that people online may not
be who they seem.
- Teach your children online service providers
never ask for passwords and they should never give their password out.
- Teach your children to never let anyone
pressure them into doing something they feel uncomfortable doing.
- Some children have access to the Internet at
school. Check with the school authorities to ensure your children are
properly supervised and monitored by a responsible adult.
- Know your children’s friends and their
parents.
- Set reasonable rules for computer use by your
children. Discuss the rules with your children and post them near the
computer as a reminder.
