Thinking about dating online or putting personal information about yourself online? Please read the following about how to protect yourself from online predators and scammers.

Myspace.com and Facebook.com have become huge hits among young people to meet each other and stay in touch. It also has become a good site for sexual predators to find out information and meet with young innocent individuals.

As a parent or even as a youth, do not give your date of birth, personal address, phone number, or full name to anyone on the internet unless you personally know the person. When you talk with someone online, in a chat room or through e-mail, you have absolutely no idea what the person looks like on the other end. They may portray themselves as everything you are looking for in a person just to get you to converse with them. Once conversation takes place it is only time before they attempt to get personal information from you.

Scammers are another large part of the Internet problem. People from Nigeria or other countries attempt to get you to send money to them through Western Union or other ways. The Lincoln Police Department has investigated several such attempts to get Lincoln residents to purchase items or send money and get nothing in return.

Remember one important fact while conversing with others online: “If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn’t true”.

If you are receiving e-mail from someone and think it may be a scam please search the Internet for his or her e-mail address. Many online dating sites list scammers in a database like this one:
Dating ‘n More

Please read over the safety information provided by Facebook.

If you are scammed and would like to report the problem to the proper authorities please visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)