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Online Dating
Magazine Issues Sexual Predator Warning to Single
Parents
(July 21, 2007) Online
Dating Magazine, a consumer watchdog
publication for online daters, has issued a warning
to single parents about sex offenders who use online
dating services.
“There are some sexual predators and sex offenders
who specifically use online dating services to target
single parents in order to get to their kids,” says
Joe Tracy, Publisher of Online Dating Magazine. “It
doesn’t happen a lot, but it does happen.”
The
warning comes after a convicted child molester was
caught emailing a supposed mother of two kids on an
online dating service, during a sting set up by Parents
for Megan’s Law.
Parents
for Megan’s Law,
a child advocacy group, received anonymous emails about
the convicted sex offender using Match.com in New York.
As a result, the group set up a fake profile of a mother
of two boys and emailed the sex offender, Michael Bradley.
Bradley responded, breaking his court order not to
seek romantic relationships online. As a result his
computer was confiscated and he faces the possibility
of having his parole revoked.
“It is the responsibility
of consumers to protect their safety and that of their
families, so do not rely on the assurances of dating
sites that attempt to screen out predators,” said
Dr. James Houran, spokesperson and feature columnist
for Online Dating Magazine.
According
to Dr. Houran, “the
best protection is to use your head in matters of the
heart. Do not get so caught up in the excitement of
online dating that you are not constantly alert – instead
assume everyone online is a potential predator.”
Online
Dating Magazine recommends the following tips that
parents should follow when using an online dating service:
1) Never post photos of your children in your profile
or anywhere online.
2)
Don’t
talk about your children in your profile.
3)
Don’t
mention what gender your children are.
4)
If you’re dating
someone, wait several months – until you are
more serious – before introducing your date
to your children.
5)
Run a background and sex offender check on the
person you’re dating before introducing
them to your children.
While online dating is generally
a safe way to meet people, Online Dating Magazine recommends
that online daters take a cautious approach to online
dating.
About Online Dating Magazine
Online
Dating Magazine is a consumer watchdog publication
for online daters. Located at http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com,
the online publication contains more than 1,000 pages
of original content, including daily tips and advice
for online daters.
Note to Media
To arrange an interview
with Dr. James Houran or Joe Tracy on this subject,
please call 503-315-2466 (media inquiries only, please)
or email jtracy@onlinedatingmagazine.com.
More in-depth facts and statistics
available to reporters. Click
here.
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