An email arrives in your inbox alerting you that a sexual predator has moved into your neighborhood. An attached link promises to provide you with the information you asked for in order to keep your family safe. Problem is you never signed up for any notifications about predators and the sender is not familiar to you or anyone else in your home.

Scammers try their best to prey on people’s fears but at times they actually give themselves away when you know what to look for. Here are a few tips.

Always be suspicious of bad grammar and phrases that don’t make sense.

Hover over URLs for a few moments to determine their origination. It is easy for scammers to set up a fake websites encrypted with malware or phishing programs designed to steal your personal info.

Don’t click on strange links especially when you haven’t requested any information on a particular area of interest.

There are several reputable sources for Sexual Predator information. One of the most reliable is www.FBI.gov. where information for  each state is posted in an easy to access format. Local law enforcement agencies can also refer you to reputable sites if needed.

Take care and be aware that some predators hide in cyberspace waiting for you to fall for their phony websites and fake emails. It takes just a few seconds to stay safe when you know how to beat cons at their own game.