City Police issue advisory about an Internet game

CITY POLICE

NEWS RELEASE

************************* The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service was advised by a member of the public of a concern about their son's use of the Internet.

Police were advised that the child was playing an Internet-based game which required the participant to call a 900 number (as directed on the web site) to obtain extra clues or information on how to play the game.

The child in this case did not realize that each call to the 900 number resulted in charges to their phone bill of approximately $11 per call.

The parent, in this instance, received a bill for five phone calls.

There were also concerns that these types of web sites exposed the user to viruses and enables hackers to get a hold of another person’s password.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is offering this advice to parents.

If you discover that your child is on a web site that you do not approve of we recommend the follow steps be taken to block the entrance to a web site:

1) Go to the Internet site in your computer (e.g. Google).

2) On the computer tool bar click on the TOOLS tab.

3) Select Internet options.

4) Select CONTENT tab.

5) Under the content advisor click the ENABLE button.

6) Select APPROVED SITES.

7) In the box below "Allow this web site:" type in the name of the web site you wish to block.

8) Click the NEVER button.

9) The site will then be listed in a larger box with a red "do not enter" symbol. Click OK.

10. You will then be prompted to create a supervisor password. Do not reveal password to child!

11. Press OK

Parents may want to also consider contacting their telephone service provider and request that the 900 number capability be blocked on their home phone service.

Parents are reminded that they should always monitor the use of the Internet by minors in their home!

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