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Parents are being cautioned not to allow their teenagers to use webcams in their bedroom due to growing concern over child predators online.
International child sex predators are using the internet site Skype to contact New Zealand teenagers, engage them in cyber-sex and groom them for offline meetings, The Press reported today.
The newspaper set up a virtual trap with a profile purporting to be that of a 15-year-old girl, "Rebecca".
Within minutes, Rebecca received requests from adult men wanting cyber-sex, although it was made clear that she was underage.
An Egyptian man with the username "friends for ever" was the most persistent and vulgar, quickly sending live video of himself to what he thought was a Christchurch teenager. His profile said he was Ayman Ragb, an accountant from Cairo with 720 Skype contacts. He claimed to be 20 years old.
A Los Angeles user threatened to download a virus to Rebecca's computer and destroy her hard-drive if she did not answer his call.
Only one user broke off contact once he learnt Rebecca's age.
Men in England, Turkey and the United States all initiated low level contact and asked Rebecca to use her webcam so they could see her.
Christchurch computer forensics expert Mike Chappell said Skype was a relatively new avenue for abusers. Skype acts as an internet telephone, allowing users to talk to each other in different countries free. Video is available if users have webcams.
Mr Chappell's business delves into computer memories to see what a user has been downloading. He said much of his work was from parents concerned at their children's use.
"It's pretty disturbing. These guys (predators) are pretty quick on the uptake. I think kids think it's just a big joke," he said.
Stop Demand founder Denise Ritchie, who campaigns against the sexual degradation of women, said children should not be allowed webcams alone in their bedrooms.
- NZPA
