Online Exploitation
Exploitation can start and stay online. 95% of 12- to 15-year-olds have smart phones, which can be used to exploit them.
There are criminals who use the internet to groom by trawling social media and gaming sites looking for people to target and exploit, sexually and financially.
The exploiters might hide their true age, gender and identity. They may try and meet up with the young person face to face or encourage them to send sexual images/videos of themselves, or they may get them to launder money. They might offer gifts, game codes or flattering messages in return.
"The Com" (short for "community") is a rapidly growing, dangerous global online network that targets vulnerable children for sexual exploitation, violence, and self-harm.
These groups are not solely on the dark web; they often operate on mainstream accessible platforms like Telegram, Discord and social media sites to groom children into producing sexual images or inflicting harm on themselves, often as part of a "game" to gain status, notoriety, and, in some cases, profit.
Predators use "love bombing" (extreme displays of affection) and grooming to establish trust before switching to coercion and extortion. A common, rising threat involves blackmailing children with their own intimate images.
There are criminals who use the internet to groom by trawling social media and gaming sites looking for people to target and exploit, sexually and financially.
The exploiters might hide their true age, gender and identity. They may try and meet up with the young person face to face or encourage them to send sexual images/videos of themselves, or they may get them to launder money. They might offer gifts, game codes or flattering messages in return.
"The Com" (short for "community") is a rapidly growing, dangerous global online network that targets vulnerable children for sexual exploitation, violence, and self-harm.
These groups are not solely on the dark web; they often operate on mainstream accessible platforms like Telegram, Discord and social media sites to groom children into producing sexual images or inflicting harm on themselves, often as part of a "game" to gain status, notoriety, and, in some cases, profit.
Predators use "love bombing" (extreme displays of affection) and grooming to establish trust before switching to coercion and extortion. A common, rising threat involves blackmailing children with their own intimate images.
