CICC warns that online grooming tactics can lead to blackmail, violence or suicide
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said online groomers use stages like love-bombing and blackmail, which can push youths toward extreme violence or self-harm.
Renato Paraiso, executive director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, warned that online grooming follows a multi-stage process that begins with identifying vulnerable youths on gaming and social platforms. After assessing interests, predators shift conversations to private channels like Discord and Telegram, where they build trust through love-bombing, effectively replacing family support. Initial requests appear harmless, such as taking selfies, but gradually escalate to criminal acts and the sharing of nude images.
These materials are then used to threaten victims with exposure, pressuring them to comply. Paraiso said the culmination of this abuse can trigger extreme outcomes, including school shootings or, more frequently, suicide among the affected youths. The warning comes amid recent school shooting incidents in the Philippines.
Why it matters
Understanding grooming tactics helps protect children from online abuse that can end in violence or suicide.
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