The AFP is warning that online child sex offenders are enticing young teenagers with cash and food vouchers to provide naked or sexually-suggestive images.
Increased reports have been received by the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) including increasing incidents involving young teenagers being offered incentives such as money, food deliveries and vouchers.
Once an image has been shared it can end up anywhere, including on some of the world’s most depraved dark web child abuse forums as offenders often circulate images among themselves,” Commander Sirec said.
“Parents and carers should be aware of some tell-tale signs that their children could be victims of this new trend, such as unexplained food deliveries arriving or children having additional money in their accounts.
The start of the school holidays is the perfect time to sit down and talk to them about their online activities, including the type of conversations they are having online and with who.
One way parents and carers can start a conversation is to create a Family Online Safety Contract, developed by the AFP’s online child safety program, ThinkUKnow, and the Carly Ryan Foundation.
Thinkuknow.org.au – family online safety contact
accce.gov.au – to make a report of child abuse