Garda urges parents to show social media active children disturbing new video

A Crime prevention garda who has heard of a number of cases of online sexual abuse in Meath, is urging parents to share a powerful new Interpol video with their social-media active children. 

The stomach-churning ten minute footage depicts real stories about young people who have been sexually coerced for explicit pictures before being then blackmailed to keep the photographs from being shared online.

The sickening video shows a young man being targeted by one of a number of people sitting in an office-style setting, orchestrated for the sole purpose of extorting money from online victims.

 

Meath Crime Prevention Officer Sgt. Dean Kerins said the striking video is 'as real as it gets' and urged parents to show it to any social-media active children, regardless of age.

 

The sergeant saw the imagery last week during a special seminar on cyber crime at the Garda College in Templemore.

He said: "I had initially sought something on this issue to show to schools, after hearing about a few cases in Meath over the last year.

"During crime prevention meetings, I have heard of a few cases where people have paid out money after sharing pictures of themselves online.  In one incident the person was asked for even more money or the images would be publicly shared.

"That person told them to jump and in that case the pictures weren't shared, thankfully.  However, it's the real fear factor that gets them.  

"You won't find these incidents on the Pulse system as many people are too embarrassed to report them.

"This material was recorded this year by Interpol and based on true stories.  It's as real as it gets.  Young people who may be self-conscious are suddenly shown interest by online strangers who play on their insecurities to gain their trust.

"They are then coerced into taking intimate pictures of themselves and sending them to their new friend - only to be blackmailed for money or the pictures get shared online.

"The other scenario is that a paedophile could be behind that new friend request on your game or social media platform.

"It causes real fear among young people who are afraid to tell anyone.  The reality is that there have been some young people who have died by suicide for no apparent reason and you're left wondering, could this be at the back of it?"

Sgt Kerins said that in some cases, it's not strangers that share the pictures.

"It can start with boyfriend and girlfriend sharing pictures.  All of a sudden one of them breaks-off the romance and the disgruntled other makes the pictures public to get back at them.  The reality there is that they could be charged with distribution of child pornography and so two lives are destroyed.

"Older people too can be conned into having online affairs.

"The video is though provoking, emotive and really hits home and it could happen to anyone using social media, regardless of age."

Sgt Kerins is planning on visiting local schools in the coming months to show the video and provide information on the subject.