Law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area are warning parents about a new grooming tactic used by sexual predators. Officials with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office say “group grooming” involves normalizing the exchange of sexually explicit material online.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in San Francisco sent a press release warning the public about “group grooming” tactics. Some include meeting in social media and gaming groups to chat with children. The FBI also warns that online interactions can turn into an in-person sexual offense.
According to the release, “In some instances, groups of online predators pose as children, meet in social media groups and gaming clans geared toward children, and use each other to condone and normalize the exchange of sexually explicit materials within the group. Children who join the games, chats, or online groups are unaware that they are engaging with adult online predators, and instead believe they are meeting with a group of their peers.”
The FBI encourages anyone who believes a child they know may be a victim of exploitation to contact their local law enforcement agency or send a tip to the FBI here.