Predators Could Target Children During Online Games, Cybercrime Officer Warns
Maurer: Kids Being Asked To Take Photos Of Themselves Naked
POSTED: Friday, July 25, 2008
UPDATED: 12:28 am EDT July 29,
2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Child predators who are apparently offering "game points" in exchange for nude images through Internet-connected video games have prompted a warning for parents from a cybercrime detective."Kids are playing games, and they are being asked to take photos of themselves naked in order to get game points," Florida Attorney General Cybercrime Detective Lt. David Maurer said. "There is not only the chatting version of the games but also a webcam involved."Maurer is warning parents to take precautions when it comes to gaming because most are hooked to the Internet and anyone can be chatting with children during game play."My theory on it is that predators are going to go where kids are, and kids are playing video games so it's a perfect place for them to be," Maurer said.At any time, there can be up to 300,000 people online playing the most popular Internet-connected games, Local 6's Donald Forbes reported."You think they're just watching a game, and I didn't really know they could actually get through the games and play a lot of people," parent Alida Magana said.Some of the most popular games are "Halo 3," "Call Of Duty," "Final Fantasy" and "Grand Theft Auto," Forbes reported."(We are) worried, scared and more cautious," parent Carol Montalvan said when asked about her sons' gaming. "One of the rules is that he cannot use that unless I am physically home with him; otherwise he cannot use the headset and basically chat either."The Montalvan family has set up the gaming in the living room where everyone can view what is taking place on the screen and parental controls.For more information on safe gaming, visit Netsmartz.org or the The Florida Computer Crime Center.
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