WE PROTECT OUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, WE PROTECT OURSELVES

From Cyprus Police:

When talking to someone unknown on the internet, it is very important to be careful. Everyone, behind an online 
profile, can easily give false information about who he is. It can easily be pretended to be anyone else and deceiving 
us.

How can you protect yourself online? Make sure you always control what you publish and with whom you share 
your personal information.

If someone asks you to send him pictures or videos, sexual content, you can ask yourself: Why does he ask for
 this? What could he do with this material? Could he use this material to blackmail or exploit me in any way?

It is perfectly reasonable and normal to refuse. Say NO. Our security and the protection of our personal data is 
important. 

Besides, if he's a friend you know and knows you well, you have to show understanding and understand that you 
do not feel comfortable with all this. If not, then that person may not deserve to be your friend. 

On the other hand, if you are someone you know only online, be more careful. Can you learn his real identity? 
Please advise someone you know and trust.

If things go wrong. If you have already sent something that you should not, and now you are blackmailed, know
that there are solutions .  

Small tips for greater security

Keep your personal data secure

Do not post your personal data (phone number, address, school etc) and do not share it with someone you know 
only online. If you are in doubt, ask yourself: Why is it necessary to know this information who asks for it? How can 
he use them?

Always keep your privacy settings up to date on your social media accounts so your personal data is secure. 

How do I look;

Watch your online presence.  Survivors searching the web for potential victims often look for profiles of young 
people with a provocative user name that uploads provocative photos or often deals on the Internet with erotic 
issues. So watch your online profile appear to other internet users.

Want to meet?

Putting security above all.Publishing information about where you are or meeting someone you just met or know 
only through the internet is not such a good idea. But if you want to do it, try to do it safely. He met that person in a
public place with enough traffic. It is even better to be accompanied by an adult you trust. 

"Friend of friend"?

To be sure, ask your friend. 
It's very easy for everyone to hang up fake photos and videos on the internet. If someone tells you that he is
 "a friend of a friend or acquaintance", then it is better to ask this friend or acquaintance if he really knows this 
person. Everyone can learn a lot of things about you and your friends through the internet and social networking 
pages.

Finally ... Between us?

Make sure you do not expose yourself or your personal information at risk
If you send naked or similar content of your photos or videos through a webcam with similar content, know 
that they can be recorded and stored without you knowing it. You run the risk of publishing this material or 
sending it to anyone, or even accepting blackmail. Surely you would not want something from all that, right? 


Criminals will try to gain your trust through the internet. Watch these signs:

Very good to be true? A lot of compliments and a lot of attention
Does your new online friend share all of your publications or generally give you too much attention? Does the
relationship between you evolve too fast? Does this boyfriend constantly compliment you, says you are very 
handsome, busy or sexy and praises your photos in your account?

Think about it. Criminals will do anything to gain your trust, making you feel beautiful for yourself.

Let's talk about sex
Be very careful if someone is flirting hard or trying to make you talk about sex online. 
Especially when this happens very soon after your first acquaintance.

Do you have naked pictures? Did he ask you to send naked or provocative photos? Some criminals will try to 
convince you that other young people are sending such photos to each other.

Can we say some more specially? You may know someone on an open web site, such as an online game 
or a chatroom. Then he adds to you, in some social media or wherever a private conversation is allowed, 
where you both keep an account. Criminals prefer personal conversation. So, it's easier to start and develop 
a relationship of trust with you. Then they can ask you to chat via live streaming to get you caught up in live sex.

Our little secret? Does he ask you to keep your conversation secret? Does it threaten you to get involved if 
someone else learns about this conversation? Criminals do not want others to know that you are talking to them.
If this is known to your family or friends, they can help if things go upside down.

Psychological Changes
Criminals are trying to be good and kind with their victimized victims in order to gain their trust. But if you do 
not do what they ask for you, kindness and goodness disappear, and their position becomes wild. Do not give in. 

My camera is damaged
Criminals may think they are teenagers, boys or girls and claim that their camera's camera is damaged and
that's why you can not see them. It's also very easy to trick you and convince you to see them by uploading a 
fake video. Because you think you saw someone on the video, it does not mean that you really are the one you 
are talking to. Think about it!

TIPS TO Parents
As parents, you should always protect and advise your children. Do not let them surf uncontrollably
on the internet. This should be done with your supervision.

Learn and advise your children on how to use electronic devices and how to surf the internet properly and securely.

You must know the passwords of your children's online accounts, making it clear that you can log in at any time.

Communicate with your children.  Explain to your children the dangers of chatting with strangers on the internet, 
sending photos and personal data, or generally dangerous online behavior.

Make them understandable that they can talk to you at any time about any matter and show them that you really
care about their online security and their activities. 

In the face of any risk, you should know that there are experts to whom you can and must address, so that this 
risk is overcome.