By now, most people recognize that reverse phone number lookup directories allow users to search for names by using only a telephone number only. Unlike a standard telephone directory, the reverse lookup directories can supply information like the name and address behind an otherwise anonymous phone number. Reverse lookup not only allows users to learn the identity of a company or individual behind a blind phone number, they can also show you what state and town the calls are coming from too. Knowing the identity of people calling you on the phone has never been more important than it is today in a world of fast moving technology. Because the technology is changing so rapidly, certain aspects of privacy and protection are not as effective as they once might have been.
However, when it comes to families with children or teenagers in the home, privacy and protection issues can be paramount. . As families purchased computers and went online, their children did too and issues concerning online bullies and child predators became a big parental worry. Early on, the online chat rooms where children and teens posted generated the most worry and concern. In time, both kids and parents evolved a bit and today are more savvy about online dangers, but the fact that kids now have unprecedented access to cell phones poses new worries as they could be getting calls from people neither they nor their parents know. Identifying who is calling your kids may not be a huge concern to your children, but when someone is harassing them by phone, it is up to the parents to ensure their safety. A reverse phone number lookup can help parents get an idea of what is going on, but when the threats become persistent, it is time to get the proper authorities involved.
When your child receives repeated phone calls from people you don’t know or is making calls to numbers you don’t recognize, the proper authority is the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI’s Cyber Division has prepared a document to help parents deal with phone or online threats titled “A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety” that says while talking to a child victim on-line might be a thrill for a computer-sex offender, most really want to talk to children on the telephone. Predators will often attempt to engage in “phone sex” with children at first and then attempt to set up an actual meeting for real sex later.
The FBI’s Parent’s Guide also instructs that while many phone or computer predators may give out their telephone numbers, some offenders have obtained toll-free 800 numbers, so that their potential victims can call them without their parents finding out. Others may tell the child to call collect, however both methods result in the predator being able to see the child’s phone number with a simple Caller ID feature.
While a child may be hesitant to give out his/her home phone number, the computer-sex offenders will give out theirs. With Caller ID, they can readily find out the child’s phone number. Some computer-sex offenders have even obtained toll-free 800 numbers, so that their potential victims can call them without their parents finding out. Others will tell the child to call collect. Both of these methods result in the computer-sex offender being able to find out the child’s phone number. Reverse phone number lookup directories can serve as a parent’s first line of defense when it comes to protecting their children. If a situation escalates and persists, it is recommended parents contact their local FBI office or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. The Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety can be found at the FBI web site or by writing to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cyber Division, Innocent Images National Initiative, 11700 Beltsville Drive, Calverton, MD 20705.
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