1. Stay Calm and Supportive:
Address the issue calmly, ensuring your child feels secure and supported. Listen attentively and reassure them that they are not to blame. Your support is crucial in these moments.
2. Document Everything:
Collect and save all evidence of suspicious or harmful interactions. This includes taking screenshots, recording account details, and noting the dates and times of incidents. Do not delete any images, videos, or texts, as they are crucial for legal proceedings and can significantly aid criminal investigators in their work.
3. Secure Devices:
To prevent further unauthorized access and to preserve evidence, turn off and secure all related devices immediately.
4. Report to Authorities:
If you suspect someone is exploiting or abusing a child, notify law enforcement as soon as possible, whether the person you suspect is an adult, teen, or child.
- For immediate threats, contact local law enforcement by calling 911.
- Report online enticement or exploitation to specialized agencies such as The National Center for Mission & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Report online at Report.CyberTipline.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
- Call the Know2Protect Tipline at (833) 591-5669. All information received via the Tipline will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and referred to Homeland Security Investigations field offices for potential investigation.
- For general child abuse, reach out to Child Help at ChildHelpHotline.org or call 1-800-422-4453.
Reporting Tips:
• Personal Details: Provide law enforcement with your child’s name, date of birth, height, weight, and descriptions of any other identifying features or information such as eyeglasses and braces.
• Suspect Details: Describe the appearance, age, and any identifiable features.
• Behavior and Activities: Show evidence of suspicious conversations, actions, transactions, interactions, images or videos sent, etc.
• Locations and Times: Specify where and when the incident(s) occurred (names of platforms, accounts, public or private posts or messages, etc).
• Accounts, Platforms, and Other Information: Provide details of any implicated social media or communication platform accounts, profiles, usernames, phone numbers, emails, vehicles, or other identifying factors.
The more information and evidence you can provide, the more actionable your report will be for law enforcement to effectively investigate.
5. Platform Reporting:
Report any abusive accounts or interactions directly to the platforms where they occurred. Most platforms have mechanisms for flagging and reporting inappropriate user accounts and content.
6. Seek Professional Help:
Consult mental health professionals to support your child’s emotional recovery. Trauma-informed care is vital to help them heal from any trauma associated with the exploitation.