Threatening or harassing email should never be excused as a prank. Threats should always be taken seriously. It is dangerous to dismiss threatening email, believing the threats will never be acted upon. Remember that threatening or harassing someone through email is just as illegal as doing so in an offline form.
Computer & Internet Safety
It’s important to remember that the internet is like any other community. While most people online are good, decent people, there is a percentage who are not. Because of this, it's important that you take measures to protect yourself and your children.
Here you will find resources to help protect yourself online, how to talk to youth about internet safety, and what to do if you are a victim of a cyber based crime.
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is an Internet-related term that’s used to describe someone who’s stalking, threatening and/or harassing another person online. To the victim, it can be a traumatizing and frightening experience.
If you don’t wish to receive electronic messages from someone, then send the person a message saying that you don’t wish them to send any additional messages or contact you in any way. If you continue receiving harassing messages or threats from them, then don’t reply to them and consider contacting the police.
Protecting yourself on the Internet should begin by trying to keep any information about yourself confidential. You should avoid giving out more information than necessary, and never tell someone highly personal information, including:
- The full name(s) of you and/or your children
- Your home address
- The name and address of the company where you work
- The school that you or your children study at
- Your phone number (for home or work)
Be aware that while you’re being honest about yourself, others you communicating with over the Internet may not be telling the truth about themselves. This deception is done to make the victim feel at ease. By making you feel that the two of you have things in common, there is a greater chance that you’ll be willing to exchange photos and/or information.
If you don’t wish to receive electronic messages from someone, then send the person a message saying that you don’t wish them to send any additional messages or contact you in any way. This will let the person know that you didn’t appreciate their behaviour, and give them the chance to stop. Often this is enough, but if you continue receiving harassing messages or threats from them, then don’t reply to them. Consider contacting the police.
If you receive any messages that make you uncomfortable, (through email, chat, etc.), but don’t feel threatened or the need to call the police, it is possible to block that person from sending you any other messages. Many apps allow you to filter messages or add certain people to an ignore list, blocking them from contacting you.
Any threatening or harassing email should not be deleted. Remember that this is the evidence that may be used to find and convict the person sending these messages. Police may wish to analyze them for further information.
Online Safety Resources
Throughout these pages you will find online safety resources recommended by the NRPS. Most sites are non-profit or charity based, and the majority of information is freely available. The Niagara Regional Police Service receives no financial compensation from any entities on this page and has no control over the content of their respective websites. We offer these resources out of the belief that they will be useful in educating the community.
Always be discerning and skeptical when deciding how to stay safe online.
Canadian Centre for Child Protection
A website that is dedicated to the personal safety of all children. They offer a number of programs, services and resources for Canadians to help them protect children and reduce their risk of victimization. This page is the result of a collaborative effort between the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) and C3P, and contains several links to their resources. C3P has also worked closely with NRPS to produce informative hand-out literature, especially geared toward parents and teens.
Get Cyber Safe
A national public awareness campaign created to educate Canadians about internet security and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online. The campaign's goal is to bring together all levels of government, the public and private sectors, and the international community, to help Canadians be safer online. The campaign is an important component of Canada's Cyber Security Strategy, which is dedicated to securing government systems, partnering to secure vital cyber systems outside the federal government, and helping Canadians to be secure online. The campaign is being led by Public Safety Canada on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
This site helps Canadians learn about common scams, how to spot fraud, and where to report it. It maintains an up-to-date list of known scams. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre offers easy-to-understand information and tools to help keep yourself and your family safe.
CyberTip.ca
Canada’s national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children. Tips from the public can help protect children from sexual abuse. Canadians are encouraged to report concerns to Cybertip.ca if someone they know may be victimizing children online. For more information on addressing child victimization or to report concerns visit cybertip.ca. In addition, Cybertip.ca Alerts provide important information to keep your family safe online, including concerning technology trends and new resources designed to increase children’s personal safety.
RCMP Online Safety
The RCMP offers a database of resources to ensure you, and specifically children, have the information needed to develop safe online surfing habits.
