The latest twist I’ve seen in recent years involves a predator stalking children via legitimate adult dating services. Imagine that you’re a single mom with two small children. You want a potential suitor to understand what he’s getting himself into, so on your dating profile you provide information about your children, including pictures, names, and other identifying information. The predator meets and establishes a relationship with the mother via the dating service, but his motivation is to get to the children. He eventually achieves a sufficient level of trust to be left alone with the children; that is when tragedy strikes.

As reprehensible as such actions are, it’s important for those on dating sites to understand that child predators are using such tactics, and it starts online.