Gone in an instant By L.I.N.K. Smart

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Story line “Nook” is a beautiful high school girl with big dreams of becoming a magazine model superstar or a big Hollywood actress one day soon. She is always is looking for any opportunity that can help her to achieve her dreams, often without regard for the risks or dangers that these opportunities may hold! Nook doesn’t just think that she’s beautiful, she also believes that she’s destined to become a superstar, so when something happens that most people would think was luck (such as winning a million-dollars in the lottery or a shiny new sports car as the lucky caller into a radio station or being picked as the first place winner out of one-million other beautiful girls worldwide from a contest that she doesn’t even remember entering) Nook just felt that it was part of her destiny on her way to superstardom! In reality, she’s really just an innocent, naive, impressionable young beautiful teen-aged girl that maybe dreams a little too much. One day she got an email telling her that she had won a lucky draw grand prize of lots of cash and other valuable items, which of course she believed to be true…..even though she didn’t remember even entering the contest in the first place! When her best friend warned her to be careful and not to believe everything that she reads, receives or hears online or offline, she got mad at her friend and accused her of just being jealous of her luck and mad because she didn’t win. Although Nook had won the big lucky draw contest, the email that she received said that she would need to wait a few months to collect her winnings and needing lots of new clothes and accessories to wear while she was waiting, Nook begin searching for a part time job. One day she ran across a website that stated that they had one last career job opening for the right person who was interested in becoming a top model. Nook, of course felt that this opportunity must be just for her so she immediately applied, including her picture and lots of additional personal information and within a few hours received an email back telling her that she was one of the finalists and had to come to their offices for an interview. Nook dressed beautifully for her interview and made sure that she was on time for once. Little did Nook know but her entire life was about to dramatically change forever and this is where our story begins…….

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Haven’t you ever heard about the internet danger?

The Internet is great for many, many things… but it can also be a very dangerous place and used by criminals to do many bad things……

“Such as “to deceive young impressionable girls that want to be rich and famous so much that they take risks and over-look obvious danger signs like someone we know eh Nook!”

Nook, a young impressionable girl with big dreams and a trusting nature is the perfect prey to get caught up in a deadly trap by many criminals lurking, andWHERE waiting to CHILDREN spring PLAY DANGER LURKSbaiting AND LAYS OUR 86 their traps on their next unsuspecting targets!


Anything is possible Nook, but every online contest isn’t legitimate,

and good like the offline-offline safety contest that we heard about at school!

Yeah, well… I’ll probably even win that one too with my good luck!

To win the L.E.A.P. Safely contest takes more than luck Nook…you have to actually read this comic-book and know things about online and offline safety!

And by the way that you’ve been acting, I doubt that you know very much about this subject. So let’s wait until we go to school tomorrow and pick up our copy of “Danger Lurks and Lay Where Our Children Play”

What’s there to think about Nook, all you have to do is go to page 87 of this book and get the website address for the L.E.A.P. Safely contest.. unless you’re still thinking about going to that stupid job interview that you heard about online?

and learn more about online-offline safety together, and maybe we can both win!

Ok, I’ll tell you what, tell me the website where I can find out more information and register to win and just maybe I’ll think about it... DANGER LURKS AND LAYS WHERE OUR CHILDREN PLAY

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WOW!! I just got a notice that I’ve won the grand prize on a big Internet contest! Nooks always surfed the internet

Yeah right…maybe I’m just really lucky

Yeah right and I’m co-starring with Brad Pitt in his next movie!

Don’t you know that this is probably a trick, something to get you to buy something or worse? Use your head!

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Don’t you think it’s at least possible?


Listen… you don’t have to go with me… I’m a big girl and too smart to get easily tricked!

Watch this, I’ll Google them to check them out and make sure they are a real company and you’ll see!

Nook, often dreams too much, is too trusting and overly optimistic at times…maybe one time too many! You’re just jealous of me and mad that you didn’t The Internet has so many win this contest! ways to check things out to make sure that is legit and I’m satisfied that this company is cool!

Fine! Do whatever you want Nook…. but don’t say that I never warned you if you get into the trouble because you’re acting really dumb right now!

Nook refuses to listen to the warnings from her friend and continues searching for her dreams on the Internet Until….. DANGER LURKS AND LAYS WHERE OUR CHILDREN PLAY

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Sounds like this ad was made just for me!

Here I found it! A job opening for a young, beautiful career minded woman to be a top model… ONE POSITION OPEN!

I had better send my picture and contact information to them now before someone else beats me to the last opening!

Once again a deadly trap is set and another innocent

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ONE POSITION OPEN…

victim is ensnarled in its trick sticky web of deception and danger!


Nook quickly gets dressed in her most beautiful clothes and accessories so she can make a great impression at her job interview, this time without even checking the company details

Take a seat, we’re just finishing up with another interview and we will be with you shortly‌ have a cup of tea and fill out this application form and relax

Thank you

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Oh why do I feel so dizzy all of a sudden…something isn’t right here!

Unknown to Nook, the cup of tea that she was about to drink contained a powerful knockout drug that would soon make her drowsy and helpless

Nook knows that she’s in trouble and remembers her friend’s warning…. but unfortunately it’s too late to save her!

The terrible position that Nook suddenly finds herself in is replayed far too often every day somewhere in the world from America to Asia to Africa to Europe to the Middle East to Latin America and beyond!

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Lock her in that’s room, and make sure that you don’t bruise this one like the last one you idiot….

OK boss…but I would sure like to sample these goods just once!

we’ll make lots of money off of her with her pure white skin and blond hair!

Top Model eh…

you’re just another stupid girl

Now get inside before you get hurt!!

Drugged and totally helpless, Nook tries to scream but it’s all in vain and too little and too late!

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Please… someone help me pleease!!!

As the door shuts Nook suddenly realizes that she’s not alone….. several other young, beautiful girls just like her had also been tricked and by the look in their eyes she knew that her troubles were just beginning!

Don’t ever think that something like this only happens to other people or someone else’s child because it can and does happen every day to the rich and the poor, to the smart to the illiterate and at times even to those innocent young victims and their families that feel that they’ve done all they can do protect their children ……and in a blink of an eye you or your child can vanish in an instant and become just another statistic! 94

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About

Strategies for Preventing Abductions

2,100 missing-children reports are filed each day. Many cases might be solved more easily if parents can provide a few key pieces of information about their kids, such as: height, weight, eye color, and a clear recent photo. And make sure that your kids have the safety information that could help prevent an abduction.

These strategies may help • • • • • • • •

Make sure custody documents are in order. Have ID-like photos taken of your kids every 6 months and have them fingerprinted. Many local police departments sponsor fingerprinting programs. Keep your kids’ medical and dental records up to date. Make online safety a priority. The Internet is a great tool, but it’s also a place for predators to stalk kids. Be aware of your kids’ Internet activities and chat room “friends,” and remind them never to give out personal information. Avoid posting identifying information or photos of your kids online. Set boundaries about the places your kids go. Supervise them in places such as malls, movie theaters, parks, public bathrooms, or while fundraising door to door. Never leave children alone in a car or stroller, even for a minute. Choose caregivers — babysitters, childcare providers, and nannies — carefully and check their references. If you’ve arranged for someone to pick up your kids from school or day care, discuss the arrangements beforehand with your children and with the school or childcare center. Avoid dressing your kids in clothing with their names on it — children tend to trust adults who know their names.

Talking to Kids About Strangers

Talk to your children often about safety. Give them the basics on how to avoid and escape potentially dangerous situations. Teach them to: • • • 96

Never accept candy or gifts from a stranger. Never go anywhere with a stranger, even if it sounds like fun. Predators can lure kids with questions like “Can you help me find my lost puppy?” or “Do you want to see some cute kittens in my car?” Remind your kids that adults they don’t know should never ask them to help or to do things for them. Run away and scream if someone follows them or tries to force them into a car. DANGER LURKS AND LAYS WHERE OUR CHILDREN PLAY


• • •

Say no to anyone who tries to make them do something you’ve said is wrong or touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Always tell you or another trusted adult if a stranger asks personal questions, exposes himself or herself, or otherwise makes them feel uneasy. Reassure kids that it’s OK to tell you, even if the person made them promise not to or threatened them in some way. Always ask permission from a parent to leave the house, yard, or play area or to go into someone’s home.

Keep these other tips in mind, too: • • • •

Make sure younger kids know their names, address, phone number including the area code, and who to call in case of an emergency. Review how to use 911 or a local emergency number. Discuss what to do if they get lost in a public place or store — most places have emergency procedures for handling lost kids. Remind them that they should never go to the parking lot to look for you. Instruct kids to ask a cashier for help or stand near the registers or front of the building away from the doors. Point out the homes of friends around the neighborhood where your kids can go in case of trouble. Be sure your kids know whose car they may ride in and in whose they may not. Teach them to move away from any car that pulls up beside them and is driven by a stranger, even if that person looks lost or confused. Develop code words for caregivers other than mom or dad, and remind your kids never to tell anyone the code word. Teach them not to ride with anyone they don’t know or with anyone who doesn’t know the code word. If your kids are old enough to stay home alone, make sure they keep the door locked and never tell anyone who knocks or calls they are home alone.

If Your Child Has Been Abducted

Because the first few hours are the most critical in missing-child cases, it’s important to provide officials with information about your child immediately. If your child has been abducted, contact local law enforcement officers straight away. They’ll ask you for a recent picture of your child and will probably ask you many questions about the time and location you last saw your child and what your child was wearing. You may also request that your child be entered into the National Crime and Information Center (NCIC). Other clearing houses such as the Child Protection Education of America ([866] USA-CHILD) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ([800] 8435678) can offer information and support during your search. After notifying the authorities, try to stay calm. You’ll be able to remember details about your child’s disappearance more easily if you remain rational and logical. Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/travel/abductions.html

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