The Dangers of Instant Messaging

About four weeks ago, I was sitting at my computer when a notice popped up from Instant Messenger. It said that surfer_chic92 had asked to add me to (I'm assuming) her IM list, and was this alright?

My first thought was, "This is one of my relatives (I have lots of nieces) or one of my daughter's friends. Sure, let her see when I sign in or out. Maybe she'll even send me a message."

I've noticed as Surfer Chic has logged in and out (about three times a week, usually after suppertime in Calgary) for the past little while. I never heard a word from her. Finally, curiosity got the best of me. This evening when a message popped up that she had just logged in, I decided I was going to find out who she was. Here's a transcript of our session.

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Sean says:
hey, surfer chic
Surfer Chic says:
hey
Sean says:
This is Banana and McMonk's dad. Who is this?
Surfer Chic says:
Kaylee
Sean says:
do you know banana or mcmonk?
Surfer Chic says:
noooooooo
Sean says:
William Reid school or Banff Trail school? Ringette, maybe?
Surfer Chic says:
noooooooo
Sean says:
Hmmm, very strange. I wonder how I got on your list. Are you in Calgary? (last personal question, I promise).
Surfer Chic says:
nooooo and don't worry about the questions they are not that personal
Sean says:
This isn't Kristin, my niece, is it?
Surfer Chic says:
noooo
Sean says:
OK. Well, if you're not in Calgary and you don't know my daughters (and you're a school aged girl, I'm assuming from your e-mail address), then we probably shouldn't be on each others' lists.
Sean says:
correct?
Surfer Chic says:
i don't know
Sean says:
Did you ask to be on my Instant Messenger list?
Surfer Chic says:
i'm really not sure I am kind of confused right now
Sean says:
Yep, me too. Check on your instant messenger list, and see if you have a contact named "Sean".
Sean says:
Do you use Instant Messenger a lot?
Surfer Chic says:
yes I am on a lot.
Surfer Chic says:
and i can see a sean
Sean says:
do you have any friends named Sean?
Surfer Chic says:
noooooo
Surfer Chic says:
ok i am very lost!
Sean says:
I got a message about four weeks ago saying you wanted to add me to your Instant Messenger list. I said OK, because I thought you were one of my daughter's friends (using a weird e-mail address).
Sean says:
I added you, thinking I'd figure out who you were sooner or later.
Surfer Chic says:
ok
Sean says:
You may have been looking for someone else and added me by mistake.
Surfer Chic says:
ok
Surfer Chic says:
i get what you are saying
Sean says:
Good.
Sean says:
You gotta be careful. I could have been a nut.
Surfer Chic says:
hahahahahahah lol
Sean says:
You can visit my blog at http://www.nuther.com/blog/ . I try to be funny. It's definitely rated "General", even though I swear sometimes.
Sean says:
Have a nice life, Surfer Chic, and browse carefully. Write me an e-mail if you'd like.
Surfer Chic says:
ok bye

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So, I got to type to a sweet young innocent thing in some far away land.

No danger to me. Big danger to her. I really could have been a nut (some may argue that I am, but only dangerous to myself). I could have done more social engineering and picked up a whole lot of info about surfer chic. It could have led to all kinds of trouble. Stalking, a house break-in (if I figured out where she was and when she wasn't at home), identity theft, ... who knows? I wish her well in her use of the Internet, but this experience has made me wonder what my own daughters are experiencing as they surf, IM around, join Internet-based contests and subscribe to stuff on websites and services.

The moral of this episode is everyone needs to be careful about adding people to their IM list.

I should have been, but for the sake of this lesson, I'm glad I didn't.