Supreme court warns of online predator risk

China's top court issued advice on staying safe on the Internet Tuesday, drawing on seven criminal cases in which predators used social networks and online dating services to prey on young people, especially women, to warn the public to be more cautious in their activities on the Web.

Social networks have become a tool that helps offenders commit crimes and the number of these crimes has increased over recent years because social networks are convenient and anonymous, Yan Maokun, an official from the Supreme People's Court's (SPC) criminal division, said at the SPC's press conference.

In the cases mentioned by the SPC, the offenders met their victims on social networks or dating websites. Four of the victims went to meet their attackers alone.

The majority of the cases involved violent crimes, including rape and murder.

Teenagers who lack safety awareness are more likely to become the targets of online predators, Yan said.

A 24-year-old, surnamed Zhang, was stabbed to death by Feng Wendong whom she met on the Web. Zhang, a transgender woman, allegedly invited Feng to her rented apartment in Beijing for sadomasochistic sex in July 2010. Feng killed Zhang and her roommate following an argument. Feng was later sentenced to death.

The SPC also plans to give advice to the country's universities and colleges on how to raise students' awareness of the dangers associated with taking unlicensed transport after a string of assaults on young female travelers that have occurred since August.

Gao Yu, a 20-year-old woman, was found dead in Chongqing after going missing 11 days earlier. Gao took a ride from a stranger, surnamed Pu, on August 9. Pu killed her after an argument.

In another case, a 22-year-old college student from Shandong Province hired an unlicensed taxi on August 21. Local police said she was held by the driver for four days, and was beaten and sexually abused.

Ran Rong, a judge from the SPC, said on Tuesday that women should take photos of taxis' license plate numbers send the photos to their family and friends.