CRIME: PARENTS WARNED OF NET PREDATORS

JACKSON, Mo. -- Teachers and parents should be more aggressive in learning about youngsters' computer habits and recognizing the telltale signs of Internet predators, a group of computer experts said Friday.

"Child porn is traded every hour of every day. That's a fact," said John MacKinnon, a senior special agent with the U.S. Customs Service, the federal agency that investigates Internet crimes. "Kids are getting more computer savvy. Parents have to get motivated to learn about that computer at home."

MacKinnon and other experts talked to students, parents and teachers about the dangers of Internet predators during workshops Friday at the Farmington Community Center and Jackson Middle School.

The visits were arranged by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who sits on the House subcommittee that funds investigations into Internet fraud and child predators. She was unable to attend the workshops.

MacKinnon said the most vulnerable areas on the Internet for children are chat rooms and a program for real time chatting known as ICQ.

"Mainly what we're finding is child pornographers like to go into chat rooms," MacKinnon said. "Nothing stimulates the sex drive of an Internet predator more than when they are communicating with someone they believe is a child."

He said Internet predators often know how to take the tiniest piece of information, such as the name of a child's school, couple it with other information available through chat sites and track down that child's name and address.

"The guy we're chasing is a sheep in wolf's clothing. He looks for vulnerable kids who let their guards down," MacKinnon said, adding that children should be wary of any Internet acquaintances who want to introduce them to others.

"If they want to introduce you to someone else, that's a big warning sign," he said.

Special Agent J.D. Kanatzar works out of a Kansas City, Mo., office and said there are no boundaries to child pornography and Internet predators.

"They're out there in chat rooms looking for kids, hoping the kids will write back to them," he said. "Do not give out any personal information about yourself because these guys are out there looking for you, and they may come visit you."

MacKinnon said the Internet has not caused an explosion in child pornography. Rather, he said, it has provided a more efficient mode of communication for predators.

Dan Beard, principal at Jackson Middle School, said the school has a computer lab and computers in most of the classrooms. He said the teachers keep a watchful eye on students' computer usage.

"It's obvious that kids need to know this stuff. Kids are on the computers almost constantly," he said. "Teachers use the Internet, too, for research and presentations. They need to know the hazards just like the students do."

Parents who suspect their child is a victim of an Internet predator should call the local or state law enforcement agency.

Detective Trevor Pulley of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said parents can protect their children from Internet predators by simply taking more of an interest in what the kids are doing.

For instance, Pulley said, parents should keep the family computer in a busy room of the house, set reasonable rules for Internet use and know their child's e-mail accounts and passwords.

"Most importantly, if your child does come to you and says, 'I've been to this site or that and I'm in trouble,' don't go ballistic," he said. "Once you do, they're going to shut down and not tell you a word."

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Warning signs that a child may be the victim of an Internet predator:

1. He or she spends a large amount of time online.

2. He or she has pornographic material.

3. He or she has numerous e-mail accounts.

4. Your home receives late-night or hang-up telephone calls.

5. There are numerous, unfamiliar long-distance calls on the telephone bill.

6. He or she receives gifts in the mail or tries to beat you to the mailbox. Child pornographers often send cameras to their prey.

7. A drop in grades or change in behavior at school.

8. Your Internet provider shuts down your account for unknown reasons.

Helpful Web sites:

To report Internet fraud or predators: www.cybertipline.com

To learn more about Internet predators: www.getnetwise.org