As a parent, you must teach your child about abduction. Many parents cannot bear to look at their children and talk to them about the fact that some adults like to hurt children. This is why the problem of missing and exploited children grows each year in this country. It is your responsibility as a parent to educate and protect your children, and if you fail to do so, you are raising potential victims. This makes you part of the problem, not part of the solution. Too many children have died or suffered a brutal assault because they were not taught the skills to protect and defend themselves. Be a responsible parent and teach your child how to recognize and identify danger. Teach your child how to use their instincts. A little paranoia is better than having to identify your child’s body.

Children have been the victims of child abuse and violence for thousands of years. It has only been within the last hundred years that people started to seriously identify crimes against children. Now there are laws against kidnapping and molesting children, but the predators have not stopped. They are still using every trick in the book to entice children from the safety of their family and friends. Once the child is out of their safety zone, the predator is free to do whatever he wants.

Lures work because young children and teenagers do not recognize these actions as threatening. They work because they are normal and non-threatening. These predators are inventive and prey on the innocence and vulnerability of young children. These are the same children we have taught to respect adults and be polite to them.

The following lures are commonly used by child predators and molesters. This list is by no means complete. Predators are constantly thinking of new and different ways of enticing their victims.
*Here the predator is referred to in the masculine sense, remember that women can also be predators.*

1. AFFECTION: Predators target lonely, self-conscious or unhappy children. If he can make your child feel important and loved, your child is more likely to go with him and keep secrets for fear of losing their
love and companionship.

2. ASSISTANCE: Predators know that children are willing to help others and use this for their advantage. They will often ask for help in locating a lost pet, finding directions or carrying something to their vehicle.

3. AUTHORITY: Children are very trusting of people in uniforms.
They need to be taught that a uniform does NOT always make the person a police officer, fire fighter etc. They have the right to ask for proper identification or to ask another adult they know and trust for help.

4. COMPUTERS: Predators are using the Internet to meet children.
They are able to lie about themselves in order to win a child’s confidence. If they can get your child to give them their real name, address or phone number, the predator will have a map to your front door. Monitor your child’s internet usage. Take advantage of available
parental controls. Even monitor teenagers, they are just as likely to fall for the internet lure.

5. DRUGS: Predators use drugs and alcohol to attract children and weaken their resistance. This makes them vulnerable to molestation or attack.

6. EMERGENCY: This lure is designed to prey on your child’s emotions. The predator may tell your child you have been in an accident and are hurt. By doing this, the child becomes concerned for your safety and will let his/her guard down making them available to the predator.

7. GAMES: Games can be used to build your child’s confidence, gain their trust or make contact with the child. Video arcades and even games in your home provide contact.

8. GLAMOUR: Ego building is very effective. A beauty contest, talent show or photo shoot can provide an opportunity for a predator to make contact with your child.

9. COSTUMES: A super hero or clown costume may be all it takes for a predator to get close to your child.

10. INJURY: A fake injury can be used to gain your child’s sympathy and draw them close to the predator.

11. BRIBERY: Money or gifts are often used to buy a child’s trust or confidence.

12. JOB: A job offer should be carefully checked out before accepted. Talk to the person who wants to give them a job. Babysitting is no exception. Check carefully before putting your child in a potentially dangerous situation.

13. PORNOGRAPHY: Children are curious about sex. Talk with them openly about it. Otherwise a predator can use this curiosity as a means to expose children to sexual acts for the purpose of videos or photographs.

14. THREATS: When all else fails, a predator will threaten a child with violence against their family or pets. This is done to gain control and silence a child or get the child to leave with them.

15. ICE CREAM VENDORS: Accompany your child to the ice cream truck. This lure has been successfully used to abduct children.