Police from Hawkesbury Local Area Command wish to warn young members of the community and those who use social media of the potential risks involved in communicating with strangers online.
On Wednesday, a 14 year old girl from the Hawkesbury community received an unsolicited contact from someone who identified themselves as a young man from overseas.
“The general nature of the message was along the lines of "how pretty" the young lady looked in her profile picture,” local police said.
“Further unsolicited messages requested an intimate photograph with an offer of money if the young girl would forward a photograph.”
At this time, the young girl informed her parents and police were notified.
“From initial inquiries, it appears the author of the unsolicited messages is from an overseas address and has made random contact based on trawling photographs on social media.”
Police urge that the following measures be put in place:
- Security settings on social media are placed at the highest possible level.
- Discretion is used in the posting of photographs and information that can identify persons on social media. Consider using a nom de plume (an assumed name used by a writer instead of their real name; a pen-name) and an image that may be connected with the person but not reveal their identity.
- Regular and open discussion with young people about the real risks that can be encountered on social media.
- Building and maintaining a relationship with young people so they have trust and confidence to discuss issues that have caused them concern.
- Report matters to police. While there are difficulties in following lines of inquiry in overseas jurisdictions, it is important that authorities are informed so that trends, threats and risks are clearly identified.
“As this is an issue that has the potential to be a risk, particularly to the young members of our community, police urge that this warning is shared with as many people as possible.”
