Questionable Symbol on Child's Toy Code for Pedophiles?

Police in Pasco County, Florida, near Tampa, were surprised to encounter a symbol on a child's toy that is similar to one used by pedophiles to designate their sexual preference.

WFLA-TV reports Nicole O'Kelly bought a pink stuffed monster truck for her daughter at a Monster Truck rally this month. When she came home, her older daughter recognized the symbol from a TV show and told her mother.

"I'm absolutely sick," O'Kelly told WFLA. "I bought this for my 2-year-old little girl. This toy was made for little girls. I wanted answers."

According to Snopes.com, a rumor research website, Detective Anthony Bassone with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office cyber crimes unit said the heart symbol does resemble an image circulated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI's Cyber Division Innocent Images National Initiative released a document that describes the "GirlLover" logo (GLogo) as "a small heart surrounded by a larger heart, which symbolizes a relationship between an adult male or female and minor girl."

That image is similar to the one found on the monster truck toy.

The document also shows the "BoyLover" logo (BLogo) and the "ChildLover" logo (CLogo).

According to Snopes, Bassone discounted reports that the symbol is used to target young children for pedophiles. However, he did say the symbol on the toy truck is troubling from a cyber crimes detective's perspective because pedophiles may widely recognize it.

"Bassone noted that while the symbol wasn't necessarily dangerous or presenting a risk of child exploitation, it was possible in-the-know pedophiles would find the use of the symbol on children's clothing or toys to be stimulating or amusing," the website reported.

WFLA reports the stuffed toy truck was designed at Feld, Inc., which is located in the Tampa Bay area. Feld told WFLA and Snopes that the toy had been pulled from its inventory.

The company released the following statement to Snopes: "The company was not aware of the disturbing message contained in the truck's design, nor did we intend to use any design that had a secret or double meaning. We are currently reviewing our merchandise to ensure that it's appropriate for our customers."

Snopes reports that it's important to remember that studies have continually shown that only 10 percent of sexual assaults against children are committed by strangers.

Most of the abuse, the website says, "is committed by family members, family friends, or other trusted adults without the use of coded toys."