Westerville Police have taken a proactive approach to internet safety and created a program in '2004' called the ICETEAM (Internet Crimes Enforcement Team).  This team arrests internet predators that they come in contact with online.  To date the team has arrested approximately 60 offenders. 

The Police Division also provides education to the community in various ways.  I-Safe (Internet Safety) is taught in all Westerville (city) 5th Grade DARE classes.  The Police Division also offers presentations to the public.  They present a parent presentation, as well as a presentation for both teens (12 and older) and their parents.  Please see the events page on the right side of this page for upcoming events.  You can contact iceteam@westerville.org for any questions.

ONLINE SAFETY TIPS FOR TEENS

We all know that the Internet is a cool place to hang with friends and check out new things. But don't forget about the Internet's risks and dangers. If you're going to use the Web, do it safely! Here are some suggestions on what you should and shouldn't be doing online to help protect you against the bad stuff.

Be careful online. For the latest internet slang visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ffo

Never reveal personally - identifiable information online.
A lot of people use the Internet to take advantage of other people, especially kids and teens. Never reveal any personally-identifiable information online, whether it's on your profile page or in a blog, chatroom, instant messenger chat or email.

·         Always use a screen name instead of your real name.

·         Never give out your address, telephone number, hangout spots or links to other websites or pages where this information is available.

·         Be careful about sending pictures to people you do not know very well.

·         Never tell people personal or private information about your friends or family.

·         Never assume you're completely anonymous online. Even if you don't put personal information online, there are different ways that people can still figure out who you are and where you live.

Never share your password with other people (except for your parents).
Your passwords to websites, email accounts and instant messenger services should not be shared with friends or strangers. Your friends may not be as safe as you are and may unknowingly subject you to danger. You should, however, share your passwords with your parents if they ask so they can make sure you're using the Internet safely.

Never arrange meetings with strangers.
Just because you've seen a person's picture and read his or her profile, does not mean you know them. Many people online lie about who they are and what their intentions are. Just because someone seems nice online, does not mean they really are. They could be trying to hurt you.

Don't believe everything you read or see online.
Be wary of everything you see online unless it is from a trusted source. People lie about their age, who they are, what they look like, where they live, how they know you and what their interests are. Also, a lot of websites and emails contain information that is misleading or just plain untrue. If a person or deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Ask your parents to help you figure out what information is really true.

Don't download files or software without your parents' permission.
There are a lot of files on the Internet that are unsafe to download to a computer. Some files will bombard you with pop-up ads all day long. Some files will actually track everything you and your family does on your computer, including your logins, passwords and credit card information, which criminals then use to steal money from you and do other harm. There is no easy way to tell which files are bad and which are ok to download.

Don't respond to inappropriate messages or emails.
Some people send inappropriate messages just to see if you will respond. If you do, you are simply encouraging them to send more inappropriate material to you. Don't respond to inappropriate messages. Instead, talk to your parents about how to report  them to the right place.

Don't post inappropriate content.
If you post information about tennis, you will attract people who are interested in tennis. If you post inappropriate content or pictures, you will attract people who have inappropriate interests. If you post jokes, photos or other content that contain sexual references you will probably attract people who are only interested in talking about sex. Be mindful of what you are communicating to the rest of the online world through the content you put onto the Internet.

Don't be bullied into fights.
People tend to say things online that they would never say in person. Some people even say rude and malicious things, sometimes just to see if you will respond. Don't respond to these people. Instead, talk to your parents about how to block them from communicating with you and report them to the right place.

Understand what you put online will be there forever.

Assume that everything you put online--- every email you write, every picture you post, every blog or journal entry you post--- will be accessible on the Internet forever. Many search engines copy Internet pages and save them for viewing even after the pages are no longer online. Think about that before you post anything online. Do you really want pictures or blog entries to be seen 10 years from now?

Talk to your parents about what you do online.
Even though you may know more about computers and the Internet than your parents, they understand online risks better than you. Be open with your parents about how you use the Internet. Answer any questions they have honestly and completely. Talk with your parents about the websites you visit.  Tell them what you know about online safety and how you make sure you stay safe while using the Internet. Listen to your parents' concerns. They're only trying to make sure you're safe.

Teach your parents about computers and the Internet.
It is natural to fear the unknown. You've grown up using computers and the Internet. Your parents probably didn't. You probably know a whole lot more about computers and the Internet than your parents. Teach your parents what you know. This is your chance to show them something for a change. If your parents munderstand how to use computers and the Internet better, they will probably feel more comfortable with you being online.