Police have issued a warning about an internet user who befriended more than 50 Invercargill schoolgirls via Facebook, and falsely arranged to meet one of them.
Invercargill youth services Sergeant Phil Berryman said though the Hasting-based user who claims to be a 17-year-old male had not committed any offences, he misled the girls into believing he was in Invercargill, the Southland Times reported.
The man's deception was exposed when he arranged to meet a girl at an address in the city. When she went to the house, "the people there had no idea who or what she was talking about," Mr Berryman said.
The girl told her guidance counsellor, who then told police youth education officer Paul Frith.
Mr Frith found more than 50 other girls, all under 16, had contact with the man on Facebook.
Police had phoned the man and it was likely Hastings police would give him a warning for his behaviour, Mr Berryman said.
He reminded people of the adage "don't talk to strangers," saying it applied as much online as it did in the street.
- NZPA
Warning over man befriending schoolgirls on net
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
