Important....Your Opinion

Merika · 10-19-2004, 09:49 PM

I'm going to post this out in the open here to ask anyone's opinion of this situation.

My 12 year old son has a kid's blog site for his net buddies. This guy from Galt, CA get's on their chat and tells my son he wants to put a banner on the site and will pay $1 for each person who clicks on it.

My son, thinking he can make some money, foolishly gives out our phone number. We were gone when the guy called. He spoke with my daughter who said he was obviously an adult. I have his phone number from the phone ID.

Should I call him and find out why he has nothing better to do than lurk around on a kid's blog or what?

Duke · 10-19-2004, 09:51 PM

Change your phone number and have a serious talk with your son, maybe restrict his access to the computer for a while.

This guy could be a pedophile, some crazed lunatic, or who knows what. I'd also change your phone number pronto. I hate to say it Merika, but that was extremely stupid for your son to do and very unsafe.

Duke · 10-19-2004, 09:54 PM

If your son wants to make money from his site, have him set up a PayPal account and a contact us e-mail link.

Sorry for my passionate response above. It's that sort of act that gets kids taken advantage every day.

I am serious about the phone number change. Contact the guy through e-mail only.

Stone · 10-19-2004, 10:02 PM

I would call this man and tell him never to contact you or your son again or you will get a restraining order... Online contact is still a violation.
Luckily you live in Florida and there is something you can do with your phone sysytem call your phone company or local police department and ask them what to hit for call tracing. here its *79 but probably diffrent so far North... dial that after he calls and the state attorneys office will handel it from there. :wink:

Merika · 10-19-2004, 10:15 PM

It's a 209 prefix which is in CA. I was thinking about asking my best friend who is the supervisor of the the Coast Guard station here to call from his business phone which will show it's a Homeland Security related call. He'll say he's my son's Dad and ask him what the hell he wants!

Bet THAT might shake him up a bit!!!!

I'm with you Duke. I can't believe he would give the phone number out so easily. He isn't even naive. He thought he had a 'business deal' going!

Maybe we should get a good article in both kid and teens forums warning of this sort of thing. If anyone wants the number to put on some list....just PM me and I'll send it to you.

Duke · 10-19-2004, 10:17 PM

I have plenty of resources that offer information about online preditors. I'll make a news article and link it to all 3 forums.

Merika · 10-19-2004, 10:29 PM

I just reminded my son that once someone has your phone number....they have your address. All it takes is a google moment. He was very upset and feels really stupid.

I can't imagine what goes thru a person's mind who preys on little kids. What a FRIGGIN FREAK!

Duke · 10-19-2004, 10:33 PM

Although, you may be talking about someone equally naive that may be an adult and new to the net. The point is, you can never be sure so why take the chance?

Now I hate saying this but feel I have to. If you know about this event with your son and the internet, imagine all the stuff you may not be aware of? It's really important that you educate your children on the dangers of too much info online.

I'll dig through my archives and post everything I know on the subject in the next few days.

Merika · 10-19-2004, 10:39 PM

The deal is....if this guy has a business which pays $1 a click....it's either PORN or something equally as squirley. If it's popcorn....he can put a banner on your site so you can make some money! HAHA!

Duke · 10-19-2004, 10:48 PM

Ya let me know, lol.

Stone · 10-19-2004, 10:57 PM

let us know when you call him... I want to her what this jerk has to say

Duke · 10-19-2004, 10:59 PM

I don't know if it's a good idea to call the guy. If you piss him off you have no idea what he's capable of.

Merika · 10-19-2004, 11:43 PM

Like I said.....I'll get my friend to call him with the imposing Coast Guard / Homeland Security deal popping up on this Freaks phone ID and I don't think he'll BE a problem again!

I know guys who are very nice personally.....until they are working in their job capacity and I sure wouldn't want to think they were pissed off at me!

I'll post tomorrow to let you guys know what happens or if anything comes up on a phone tracer. Yeah...I can get them to do that too!

Actually, maybe it's good it came up. It's an area we haven't brought up on the kid sites and it probably should be!