Vanished! How to Protect Yourself and Your Children - Sexual Exploitation by Internet

      I caution everyone, both young and older, about the potential dangers of the Internet, our amazing digital world. And the “web” in World Wide Web can mean something sinister. The Internet of course includes the many social media outlets such as chat rooms and dating applications (Apps). My primary concern is the horrible consequences of sexual exploitation through online activities. And know this, the victims who ultimately suffer from sexual targeting and assaults are not always young girls and women alone. Everyone is vulnerable these days, even the smartest of us. And everyone is a potential target, including young boys and men.

      There is far too much to discuss in this one short article, so it is imperative you learn more about this topic and the potential risks associated with Internet usage and criminal activity. Unfortunately, the Internet brings these criminals right into your home, and into your children’s bedrooms. To be truly safe and secure from these threats, you must educate yourself first and then you must educate your children. Educate everyone you love or care about. And my book is a great starting point. I encourage you to visit www.vanishedbyleonives.com to learn more about these various real-life threats. As I always say, education is the key to life. It is the key to true Safety & Security, which includes total Awareness & Prevention.

      So, let’s start here. Always keep this in mind. No matter what you are doing and no matter where you are, not everyone you happen upon or interact with is a good person, someone with decency and morals. Especially those you meet online, who you know very little about. You do not even know what is true or deceit. These individuals may in fact be very dangerous and violent criminals with sinister desires and motives. And these individuals will include both strangers and casual acquaintances. Perhaps someone you thought was a friend. Did you know the majority of rapes are committed by someone the victim knew? Another thing I always teach is this, the police and other authorities you may one day need are “reactive.” They respond after the tragedy has struck. You MUST learn to become “proactive.” To be prepared for and prevent an assault or tragedy from ever happening in the first place. Will you remember those two bits of advice and think about them?

      There are two security precautions to always remember when using the Internet. First, do not divulge sensitive information. Just an example is your Full Name and Date-of-Birth. Secondly, do not provide too much information. Just another example is your home address and places you frequent daily, such as work or school. Both mistakes have their own inherent consequences. Sensitive information and too much personal data is information you do NOT want other people to know, especially strangers. But again, I caution you to be careful even with casual acquaintances, including people you think you know.

      In my award winning book, I refer to those who seek to use or harm others as Predators. They prey on innocent people and most of these criminals are very accomplished at what they do. In the end, they all want one thing. To satisfy their perverted desires, which can be acts that are literally horrifying. Make no mistake, these sexual predators are extremely cunning and manipulative. Their ultimate goal is to meet up with you, meaning they will be laying a trap. Much like the spider’s web that catches flies.

      But another tactic is to go search for and find you. They are excited by the hunt as well. And believe me, they can find you at home, work, school or any other place you frequent. How? Because they have actively collected everything they needed to know about you, starting with the information you voluntarily provided. They can then use that initial information to collect more Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) on you through commercial database reports that can be purchased for as little as $30.00. These comprehensive database reports will reveal everything. Where you live, work, go to school, and socialize. They will learn who you are related to and where they live. They will soon know what vehicles you own and drive. They will discover all your social media accounts, including emails and telephone numbers. The list of what they can discover is endless. So, let’s start better protecting ourselves and our loved ones right now. Right this minute, by learning more and doing more. Start with my book—your book!