Emails about missing children

Using modern means of communication at our disposal nowadays messages about a missing child are distributed, while that child is not or no longer missing. The Internet and its possibilities, like adding a picture, is indeed a fast and easy way to inform many others about a missing child.

Unfortunately these messages, with the best of intentions, are being forwarded to family, friends and acquaintances, sometimes weeks or months after the missing child has already returned. This can be damaging to the child that was missing. It also generates unnecessary email traffic.

Other than the real messages about children which have already returned, messages have been going around about non-existing children that are supposed to be missing. Together with a picture of an adorably looking young child the creators of these messages attempt to have the receivers forward these messages to everybody in their address book.

Therefore, if you receive an email about a missing child, please check whether that child is still missing. You can do that by visiting the missing children site of the Dutch National Police and check the international database (www.missingkids.nl) or the site of Tros Vermist, a Dutch TV program on missing persons (only in Dutch at www.vermist.nl). Both sites are updated frequently. If you cannot find the child listed as missing, please wait before disseminating this message.

It is possible to forward the message to the Dutch National Police, to check whether the child is (still) missing.

A child that is indeed missing, can then be placed on the site. People can visit the site and check the information when they feel like it. Once the child has been found, the information will be removed.

An example of a message that appeared on the Internet about a 13-year old missing girl, Ashley Flores. The message is similar to the following text:

>>Maybe if everyone passes this on, someone will see this child. That is how the girl from Stevens Point was found by circulation of her picture on tv. The internet circulates even overseas, South America, and Canada etc. Thanks. Please pass this to everyone in your address book. We have a Deli manager (Acme Markets) from Philadelphia, Pa who has a 13 year old daughter who has been missing for 2 weeks. Keep the picture moving on. With GOD on her side she will be found. "I am asking you all, begging you to please forward this email on to anyone and everyone you know, PLEASE. My 13 year old girl, Ashley Flores, is missing. She has been missing for now two weeks. It is still not too late. Please help us. If anyone any where knows anything, please contact me at: HelpfindAshleyFlores@yahoo.com. I am including a picture of her. All prayers are appreciated!! " It only takes 2 seconds to forward this. If it was your child, you would want all the help you could get.<<

This photograph is attached.

 This girl is not missing, therefore do NOT forward this message !

Several years ago now emails were circulating about the disappearance of a girl named Broshar, who should be the daughter of an Albert Heijn employee from Utrecht in The Netherlands. This email was a so-called "hoax", a bad joke. Later a new version of this message appeared, in which Jessica is the daughter of a lady from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The real 16-year old Jessica Elaine Broshar was indeed missing from Iowa Falls in Iowa in the United States of America, since July 31, 2002. That is why her picture and information about Jessica were posted on the Iowa Department of Public Safety web site. Since then someone has used Jessica's picture to create a false email message, in which people are being asked to forward that message to everybody they know.