Internet dangers exposed to area parents
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By ELIZABETH HOCHSTEDLER
elizabeth.hochstedler@lee.net
Friday, September 12, 2008 10:40 PM CDT
A few years ago, an Internet predator was lurking in Chippewa Falls.
He had been accused of sexually assaulting a young girl. When police did an inspection of his residence, they found the man had been involved in child pornography and used the Internet to set up a meeting with a 15-year-old girl from a neighboring community.
Chippewa Falls Police Chief Wayne Nehring used that example to illustrate the online dangers which exist in every community, including those in Chippewa County.
“There are goons like this in our community. There are goons like this in every community,” he said. “They live here, and those who don’t live here are looking here.”
Nehring told that story to a packed auditorium at Chippewa Falls Middle School Thursday night. Parents who had gathered for a back to school night were encouraged to attend the session that focused on Internet safety.
The event was sponsored by the Chippewa Falls School District, Chippewa Area Catholic Schools, Parents 4 Learning, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, the Chippewa Falls Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Rutledge Charities.
Through the presentation, parents and their children were told of the dangers that can loom if caution is not taken while using the Internet.
“The Internet is great for a lot of different things,” said Kris Midthun of the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
“You know that saying, ‘With the good comes the bad,’” she said. “The bad is that there’s Internet predators out there.”
Midthun said 99 percent of Internet predators are men and most are over 25-years-old.
“The target that they’re going after is teenagers,” she said. “The online predator is not just going after teenage girls, they’re going after teenage boys as well.”
She said 66 percent of victims are female, while 34 percent are male. Teens are easy targets because they’re vulnerable, curious and often rebellious, she said.
Midthun provided Internet safety tips for the children and parents in attendance.
She told the children that they should talk to a trusted adult about any suspicious Internet activity; they shouldn’t respond to cyberbullying, and they shouldn’t post personal information on the Web.
“Smarter choices equal being safer online,” she said.
But she also emphasized that parents should be vigilant and know what their children are doing online.
She said parents should set rules, keep the family computer in a common area, keep informed of what their children are doing, report any suspicious to law enforcement and look into safeguarding options such as filtering and monitoring software.
Chippewa Falls Det. Sgt. Dave Johnson echoed her advice to parents.
“I would encourage you folks to educate yourselves,” he said.
Parent Joe Cigan of Chippewa Falls attended the meeting just to learn more about the Internet.
“I don’t know anything about the Internet,” he admitted before the presentation.
Cigan, who has a daughter in sixth grade, said he doesn’t have a computer yet, but when he gets one he will be more aware of the dangers.
“It’s troubling,” he said. “(There are) new ways that people are being taken advantage of.”
Chippewa Falls police officer Dave BeBeau, Chi-Hi’s school liaison officer, also warned parents of cell phone bullying.
“A lot of things that are said or texted over the cell phones are hurtful,” he said.
BeBeau encouraged teenagers to report harassing text messages to their parents and parents to report it to law enforcement as cell phone companies generally only keep those messages on file for 72 hours.
Johnson also explained how parents themselves can be targets on the Internet.
“The Internet has made people anonymous. You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” he said. “People (are) preying on people who are too trusting.”
Parents were warned about online credit card scams and money wiring scams.
Johnson also told the group about a new e-mail called a “hit man” e-mail which warns the receiver that his or her friends and family may be in danger if instructions aren’t followed. The scam hasn’t hit the area yet, but Johnson said anyone who receives such a message should report it immediately.
The key point the speakers presented was that technology is drawing in a new ring of crimes, and people need to be aware of the dangers and how to prevent themselves or their families from being targeted.
“I just want everyone to know we deal a lot with this stuff,” said Gordy Foiles, an investigator with the sheriff’s department.
For parents who didn’t attend the meeting or for those who still have questions, the middle school, police department and sheriff’s department said they are always available to answer questions about the Internet.
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