Internet predators are everywhere.  While you might have enough sense from not meeting people on the Internet, it could be your little brother or sister whom is taken by some individual who claims to be someone they are not.

While there are many good people also using the Internet, there are just as many bad individuals as in real life.  Remember the lesson of not taking candy from a stranger?  This still applies from the Internet.

Pedophiles are one of the current scourges on the Internet.  "89% of sexual solicitations were made in either chat rooms or instant messages and 1 in 5 youth (ages 10-17 years) has been sexually solicited online (JAMA, 2001)" [ProtectKids.com].  Most local police forces only have one single person chasing down these people.  The best way to protect yourself, your friends, and your family is to say "no" to any Internet meetups.

Identity theft is another issue with the Internet. Social engineering is one of the easiest ways to access the victim's account information or anything else the perpetrator wishes to gain.

Be careful of people trying to do you a favor online, through the phone, or even to your face.  To paraphrase AntiOnline, "If it walks like a hacker and talks like a hacker, it's probably a hacker."

There are many predators out there.  Be careful of who you deal with and what information you give out.

North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry - State Bureau of Investigation
Sexual Predators Online - ProtectKids.com
How to Protect Your Kids -Protect Your Kids
A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Internet Predator Awareness - Teen Health Centre

How could a hacker social engineer my password? - Antionline.com
National Resource for ID Theft - Federal Trade Commission
Identity Theft and Identity Fraud - Department of Justice
Helping People Prevent and Recover from Identity Theft - Identity Theft Resource Center