Online Predators Can Reach Children Through Cell Phones

As soon as cell phones started providing Internet access, sexual predators gained access to prey on teens and children, Monterrey, Calif., television station KSBW reported.

They are small, portable and with text messaging, digital cameras and Internet access, new cell phones are a virtual electronic highway that can lead the wrong people to children.

Casey Nunez is an expert in ferreting out Internet dangers related to children. He used a cell phone feature called Powerchat to make a point.

"I went into the chat room posing as a 16-year-old white female. And in no time at all, within 60 seconds, I received numerous pornographic images of adult males, some in their 60s," Nunez said. "I've even had several adult males from as far away as California that have expressed a desire to come and meet me, fly down and meet me."

As part of an investigative report, Nunez created a fictitious 15-year-old girl and entered a chat room called "friends looking for chat buddies." Nunez said he quickly got a response that read, "I am a lunatic. Would you like a one-on-one?" A one-on-one is a private chat that uses text messaging between two people.

Nunez said that "lunatic" claimed to be a 19-year-old from Texas. Nunez asked "lunatic" if he had any pictures he wanted to trade.

"He didn't just send me a picture. He sent me a whole album," Nunez said.

Within five minutes, the stranger sends nude pictures of himself. Another picture shows him smoking a marijuana joint. "Lunatic" later says he wants to meet and have a relationship.

Without proper adult supervision, any child using a phone that is loaded with video and Internet options is vulnerable. Potential predators can easily seek them out, the station reported.

In another case, Nunez created a 10-year-old's online identity and went to a chat room, asking to trade pictures. It didn't take long for the messages to begin pouring in. One person wanted to trade by sending a video.

During the process, the person telephoned Nunez, who was posing as the 10-year-old. Nunez asked if the person was calling for the 10-year-old, and then asked if the person always calls 10-year-old children. That's when the caller hung up.

"This is the Trojan horse syndrome at its potentially worst, at its worst," said acting U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. "This is scary. And it's amazing how quickly predators will exploit this, and in large numbers find out about this technology and use it like that."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Mann prosecutes pedophiles. He warns parents that once a pedophile grabs a cell phone number after trading pictures or talking one on one in text messaging, he has enough information, potentially, to find a child.

"Internet access today gives the predator tremendous advantage over the child," Mann said. "They will show up at the home, the school, at the child's favorite place to go play. They will have the ability to find those locations, and they do show up on your front door. The child is at risk for kidnapping, for any kind of sexual deviancy of the predator. And ... the ultimate thing would be murder."

"I've heard of sharing pictures, clicking pictures, and then you can send them to somebody else. But I have never seen where you can actually get to a chat room, click a picture, and then bam! You're there. And all of a sudden, you can find out where they live. That's rough," said parent Fred Estay.

Many parents say a cell phone is a valuable tool for keeping in touch with their children. And they say the Internet is a valuable resource when used with parental supervision, the station reported.

However, some question the need for a cell phone with Internet access in the hands of a child.

"It's very scary. My daughter is 14 years old, and she's already inquired about it," said parent Mickey Phillips.

"I wouldn't give them one with Internet access. That's for sure. I have two daughters, and only one has a cell phone. And she doesn't have access. And from what I see now, she won't get it," Estay said.

Letten warned that predators are constantly prowling the Internet searching for young victims.

"The same philosophy has to apply for parents to remain vigilant when making sure kids don't play in the streets and don't ride their bikes out after midnight. They simply make sure their kids are knowledgeable and responsible and looked after when using the Internet," Letten said.