There was a recent case in Orlando, FL where a 28 year old man began a relationship online with who he thought was a 19 year old girl. The two had sexual relations many times and it wasn't until the cops showed up at the man's door that he found out she was only 12 years old. When they met on MySpace, the girl had lied about her age.

Now I know these tragic cases are far and few, but the underlying message is that with anonymity on the Internet, parents and their kids need to recognize that giving false information out to strangers - even when it's just for fun - can lead to dangerous situation from cyberbullying to online predators.

In an article in the Orlando Sentinel, Portland State University senior research associate, Kris Gowan is quoted saying:

"Parents can't assume that their children are isolated from social-networking sites. If they don't log on at home, they'll log on at a friend's house or through their Web-enabled cell phones. There's really nothing new here. Kids have been lying about their ages for years to get what they want. What's new is that the Internet has broader implications for our youth, with severe repercussions."

And this is true. Kids, especially girls have always tried to appear older than they are to attract attention from guys. They also have constant access to the Internet on their cell phones and iphones, they can log into social networking sites any time they want! Some kids are more inclined to engage in risky behaviors -- online and offline.  Parents need to step in and talk to their kids about Internet use and find out what social networks they are joining and what websites they are visiting because the implications can be much more severe.

It's the end of May and "Older American's Month" is coming to an end.   With this in mind, I'd like to offer a few tips to older Americans on how to stay safe online:

* If you are shopping online - a great convenience and possible cost-saving opportunity - be mindful of possible scams. Entering credit card information is safe on secured sites. These secured sites start with https or shttp at the beginning of the web address or have a padlock to show the site is secured.   Use one credit card for all of your online purchases. This makes it easier to track your charges at the close of each month..

* Some sites and email communications can be scams. Emails requesting banking information are known as "phishing" scams that attempt to lure victims with official looking emails that request personal financial information.  Legitimate banks will not request this sort of information online.   Never provide any personal financial information or bank account information in response to a request online.

* When joining online social communities for various hobbies, be careful about the personal information you provide online. Using a separate email specifically for online communities is a good rule of thumb. Never reveal your full name, address or other identifying traceable information.

* This is also true for online dating websites - which can be a great way to meet people. There are several different sites devoted to adults over the age of 65, and if you're using these sites, be careful about what information you give out.  Because the Internet can offer anonymity, there's ample opportunity for someone to create other identities. Ask potential dates a series of detailed questions; the more answers you seek, the less interest a scammer will have in deceiving you.  If you have met someone online who wants to meet you in person, select a busy public place and consider taking along a friend.

Looking for more information? SeniorNet, Oasis, and AT&T offer great services and programs for older Americans online.

I recently had an op-ed published in the Tampa Tribune that discusses online safety for Older Americans.  While kids and their parents are an important constituency for online safety awareness, education and tools, they're not the only generations that need to be concerned about online safety.  With so much focus today on Internet safety for kids, we need to also consider today's rapidly growing group of new online users: older adults.  Our older Americans need to be aware of the potential Internet threats and the steps they can take to keep themselves safe online. 

To get some tips on how older Americans can stay safe online, read my op-ed.

This just in...

Facebook has reached an agreement with 49 state Attorneys General, pledging to implement new safety measures and improve existing ones.  Facebook also commits to continue to serve on the Internet Safety Task Force, initiated following a similar agreement by MySpace (see blog posted on February 4).

This Facebook deal is another example of industry working with policymakers to craft the best measures for online safety - to protect kids, parents, and older adults.  I think this agreement is another positive step toward creating a safer Internet.  It's important that social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook recognize the value they offer their customers, as well as the possible risks that can occur.

Education, awareness, and online safety tools are the best methods for protecting our families online.

A New York Daily news article earlier this week covered a story of interest:  an experiment involving those annoying e-mail and pop-up "spam" messages. 

A study sponsored by McAfee (a company that sells anti-virus software) solicited the assistance of volunteer Internet users in 10 countries who would actually respond to spam e-mails they received.  The participants were required to spend at least one hour each day during the month of April, responding to any spam - from e-mails to pop-ups. 

The study found that these spam e-mails aren't just annoying, they can lead to identity theft, fraud, and scams.  McAfee is now going through the 75,000 pieces of spam to analyze their possible hazards to consumers.

Link to the article about the spam experiment here.

What can consumers do to combat spam?  The best thing to do is to ignore or delete any spam e-mail or pop-up messages.  If you do open a message, make sure you don't give out any personal information - particularly financial information.  Install anti-virus software and a firewall.  Inform your kids and older adults about the potential problems with spam mail and pop-ups. 

Last week I spoke at an event in Abilene, Texas hosted by Texans for Economic Progress entitled, "The Power of Connectivity".  This is the second time I've had the privilege of speaking at one of their events.  What I appreciate most about their events is that they offer an opportunity for an open dialogue about the benefits of the Internet while recognizing there are steps consumers need to take to protect ourselves from some of the potential harmful elements of the online world.

Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, the keynote speaker at the event, addressed some of the actions his office is taking to fight ID theft and child predators on the Internet.  One interesting observation General Abbott presented is that "we cannot arrest our way out of these problems".  Law enforcement is there to do what it can, but consumers have to also take the necessary actions to protect themselves online. 

Law enforcement is a critically important partner in the effort to keep the Internet safe, but it's also important for every consumer to be aware of the actions each of us can take to keep safe online.  During my remarks in Abilene, I spoke about the importance of awareness and education ... and provided information about the tools consumers can use to protect themselves online.  You can download a copy of my tips and tools for family online safety here.