of Saskatchewan internet child abuse The unit has seen an increase in online “sextortion” cases over the past few months, with 31 new cases reported in the province since November 2022.
“Many times, people are not who they say they are,” said Staff Sgt. Tim Feller, provincial ICE unit coordinator. “People can make really cool fake profiles on Snapchat and Instagram.”
He said that after building a rapport with the child, they start an online conversation with him.
“They are requesting videos or images of a naked child.”
Feller said one of the major concerns about children using the Internet across the country is sexual abuse, which occurs when an online offender threatens to send explicit images or videos of a person to other people if they Do not comply with their demands.
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However, ICE is having difficulty verifying the reports.
“Suspects are often overseas and in areas where the police don’t have the same kind of authority that we have in Canada,” Feller said.
The Regina resident said, “I do worry about what’s available on social media, but I think if you’re parenting and being open and honest with your child, it’s not a big concern “
He said that his child and himself talk about everything related to social media.
“We talk about what she’s seeing and what she’s allowed to see. If she sees stuff she can’t believe, she asks me about it.
Alec Kouros, director of the University of Regina’s Center of Teaching and Learning, said parents in general might start to suspect an online criminal if their child starts to be more secretive about their phone.
“They will spend more time in the bathroom or bedroom sending messages, and they may have some security on their phones,” Kouros said.
Feller said parents must strike a balance between privacy and prevention methods to protect their children.
“It’s not really a matter of ‘if’ it’s going to happen to your child. As far as being approached online by someone they don’t know, it’s really a ‘when’.
In recent cases across Canada, about 70 per cent of the victims have been teenage boys, and the suspects are usually looking for financial gain.
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The perpetrator poses as someone of the opposite sex and appears to be the same age as the victim. They claim to be mutual friends or visit a nearby school to engage the victim in conversation before turning the conversation into something romantic and requesting explicit material.
“As parents and teachers, we need to help them (adolescents) understand it better,” Kouros said. “It’s really important to be educated and knowledgeable about what happens online and what the potential downsides are.”
ICE recommends cybertip.ca As a resource for parents or guardians of children involved in cases of online abuse.
Tipline reserves the right to contact the social media platform and remove photos and images from the suspect’s profile. Educational resources are also provided.
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