Sex predators target city kids online

According to city-based private detective firms, a 40 per cent rise in cases of children being lured by paedophiles to indulge in cyber nudity has been recorded this year

Sex predators target city kids online

According to city-based private detective firms, a 40 per cent rise in cases of children being lured by paedophiles to indulge in cyber nudity has been recorded this year

Private detective firms have recorded an increase in the number of cyber crime cases against children this year, with 30 instances currently being looked into by the agencies. Sleuths in the city claim that the number of children forced into cyber nudity and pedophiles luring children to join pornographic chains has risen by 40 per cent in 2011, and the nature of complaints have also become increasingly serious.
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While earlier complaints made were related to children forced into cyber nudity, now complaints pertain to paedophiles luring children to join pornographic chains operating in the city.

Elusive evidence
The cyber crime cell was set up in 2004 and at least five complaints are lodged each month with the cyber police stations. Many of these cases are closed or dropped as a result of lacking evidence, and the predators continue to lurk online and trap other unwitting victims.

"Shockingly, child pornography cases have shot up in the city and the success rate in such cases borders only around 30 per cent. We have professional hackers to extract passwords, chat records and trace the IP address of the predator. Once we get some basic information, we direct the cases to the cops," said Capt D K Giri, chief detective, Bangaloredetectives.

Not forthcoming
Psychologists have also recorded an increase in cases related to troubled parents whose children have been involved in different cyber crime cases. "Parents usually prefer to keep the matter discreet and so do not officially lodge a complaint. Cases ranging from minor sexual abuse through the Internet to threats to reveal the child's secrets if he/she did not participate in pornographic content generation have been reported," saidu00a0 P S Vidhi, a child psychologist.

Forensic Mental Health Specialist Reeti Rekhi, who has interacted with paedophiles for 15 years said, "They pose as teens and track kids nearing puberty. They tend to predate on victims, who are available in chat rooms during the late hours of the night, befriend them and extract information about their family and friends. They listen to their problems and make them feel special by sending gifts. Once they realise that the kids are dependent on them, they set up a meeting or ask for favours."

Damaging impact
Many vulnerable peer-conscious kids are happy to find a friend outside school, she added. "Such instances leave a lasting impact on the child, and therefore their need to vent it out would shape his/her behaviour for life. The incident causes much shame and embarrassment, which can only be treated only by listening to the child," she explained.

Another detective agency from the city, Expert Cyber Crime Investigative Agency has also cracked several similar cases recently. Chief Investigator B K Raghavendra Rao said, "Often, a child being harassed erases all evidence, which makes it difficult to track the offender. In most cases we have found that parents themselves are addicted to the Internet and the children simply mirror their parent's behaviour."

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