How safe is the Internet?

That’s a question that’s been asked since its inception, and recently, there have been some high-profile examples of how potentially dangerous it can be. Here are a few:

On Jan. 22, husband and wife Elrey “Bud” Runion, 69, and June Runion, 66, went missing after leaving to meet someone with whom they spoke on Craigslist about a vintage Mustang he was willing to sell. CNN’s Steve Almasy said the couple’s bodies were found in a patch of woods not far from their car, which was found in a nearby lake. Each had a bullet wound to the head. Almasy also said the suspect turned himself in on Jan. 26,  after his father found him hiding in the woods and persuaded him to confess. The alleged killer, 28-year-old Ronnie “Jay” Adrian Towns,  who has little to no criminal background, was apparently the last known person to have contact with the Runions and is not even the owner of the car for sale. He was arrested on charges of murder and armed robbery on Jan. 27.

With the exception of webcam chatting –and that’s if the person even chooses to turn his/her camera on– there is no way to know with whom you are speaking online. The Internet is a haven for criminals or others with cruel intent, who can hide behind a portrayal of innocence and amiability.

But what does this mean for the people who are sincere in their cyber personification?

It means the Internet is not a safe place for them. They are potential prey. They must be very careful about whom they trust and what information they choose to disclose. The staff of Spectra agrees that solicitation web-sites can be, to say the least, “sketchy.”

And this is certainly not the first murder case associated with Craigslist; Courtney Peltz lists 10 more in her article “11 Disturbing Crimes Linked to Craigslist,” including the murder of a young female masseuse in a hotel room and the murder by a high school student and his mentor of three people looking for jobs. The number of crimes committed in relation to Craigslist, however, is likely much higher and should not be limited to this list.

Multiple other solicitation sites (if not all of them) have the potential to be dangerous, and even life-threatening. Take dating sites– such as Tinder, for instance. Gable Tostee and Warriena “Rrie” Wright set up a date using the app. Rrie, 26, fell to her death from his apartment. Tostee, 28, who maintains his innocence, will eventually be going to trial for murder.

It is also widely known for sex offenders and other criminals to join sites like eHarmony or Facebook.

So, is this to say that solicitation sites should not be used?

Not at all. But it is wise to use them with caution. As Mark Barden, a Spectra staff member, said, it’s not just a matter of using the site, but what people are using the site for – or the situation in which it is being used. It should be common practice not to reveal personal information online. If you plan to meet in person someone you met online, it is smart not to go alone. Meet somewhere in public, and let someone else know where you are going.

The staff of Spectra hopes you will heed our warning and take care in whom you allow access to your personal life.

SPECTRA