Case studies

Online child sex offenders may use a variety of tactics to groom children and young people. They will look for common interests like sports teams, TV shows, fashion, and hobbies to engage young people in conversation and gain their trust

The below case studies are real reports received by our Child Protection Triage Unit, and it could happen to any child. These offenders engage the children in conversation that leads to image and video sharing. As you will hear, it starts off as a seemingly legitimate interaction but quickly escalated into something more.

It’s important that parents and carers talk to their children about how to spot unusual behaviour online and encourage open and honest conversations. It's important to discuss being safe online with your children from a young age. Learn more at ThinkUKnow.org.au

It’s important to have open and honest conversations with your children, and ensure they’d feel comfortable telling a trusted adult if they are contacted by someone they don’t know.