Upper Moreland police want parents to be aware about a social media extortion scam targeting teens. Siafa_Lewis reports
If you’re wondering why boys are being targeted more and more by online pedophiles and scammers, it’s simple.
“They tend to be more gullible in many ways and once they’re reeled in there’s the fear of exposure and the extorters tend to be able to get more and more from them and just keep dragging them deeper into this horrifying situation,” Crowetz said.“There’s a couple things. Number once, awareness — what you guys are doing right now — getting the word out there. I don’t think parents realize just how bad this is and what the risks are, particularly parents of boys.
If your kids don’t have personal mobile devices but they play console or computer games online pay attention. “Even if they’re not on social media, most games have chat features and those are very common ways these kids are being targeted,” Crowetz said. Crowetz says that having this uncomfortable talk with your kids is as important as the birds and bees talk our parents may have had with us.He wants parents to communicate with their kids, educate them to the dangers online and remember to maintain your access to their devices to stay on top of what they’re doing.