Police warn parents as predators target children online

This crime is where victims are blackmailed with the threat of their intimate images being shared online unless the victim meets the perpetrator's demands.

Police are encouraging parents to have age-appropriate conversations with their child around personal safety online and what to do if they find themselves in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Most commonly, offenders engage victims through chat based social media platforms, often purporting to be a young person of a similar age to those they are targeting.

Offenders establish a rapport with their victims, often flattering them or pretending they're in some kind of relationship, before sending what they suggest are intimate images of themselves.

They will then coerce their victims into sending sexualised personal images back.

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Once they've received the images, the offender threatens to on-share the content with friends and family of the victim, making demands for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Even if the demands are met, the offenders will often still distribute the images.

A key piece of advice parents or guardians can give their children is not to accept friend requests from people they do not know.

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If you are subject to any type of concerning behaviour like this online, people should contact police and discuss the circumstances with them.

Police said they believe that these matters are under reported and that can be for a range of reasons, including fear or embarrassment, and sometimes feeling unsure if an offence has occurred or if they will be believed.

Anyone with knowledge of these incidents and those responsible is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.au

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