Maryland State Police Warning Parents, Children
PRESS RELEASE issued by the Maryland State Police:
With both children and adults spending more time online due to virtual learning and social distancing measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland State Police is reminding those of all ages to be vigilant as it relates to internet safety. According to the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit, cyber tips concerning the potential sexual exploitation of children have increased considerably over the past year. Through Dec. 7, state police have received 5,433 cyber tips. This compares to 3,248 such tips for all of 2019. Nationwide, cyber tips have also increased significantly over the past year. NCMEC received 18.43 million cyber tips between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2020. This compares to 11.28 million over the same period last year. This represents a 63.3 percent increase year-over-year.
Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also recorded 30,236 reports of online enticement of children, compared to 15,220 reports over the same period in 2019. This represents a 98.7 percent increase year-over-year.
There are several tips parents can take to help keep their children safe from Internet predators:
- Continuously monitor all of your child’s online activity
- Be aware of who your children are communicating with online
- Talk with your children about online content
- Remind children to avoid communication with strangers
- Maintain control of apps downloaded on your child’s device
- Be aware of what children see and hear and who they meet
- Know what information your child is sharing
Complaints involving the exploitation of children should be filed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at:
www.missingkids.com or 1-800-THE-LOST. If a child is believed to be in imminent danger, citizens are urged to contact their local police or call 9-1-1 immediately.