Chatham-Kent police are reminding local residents to be careful what they share online after a child in Chatham-Kent was allegedly lured online by an 18-year-old man from Portland, Oregon.
CK police said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) started investigating the man in January 2022 in connection with some alleged online luring of children.
In March 2023, investigators with the Chatham-Kent Police Service's Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) helped the FBI with the case after a child victim was identified as a Chatham-Kent resident.
CK police said the investigation showed that the man was allegedly using Instagram to persuade multiple child victims across North America to produce and send him sexually explicit photos of themselves.
The man was charged with sexual exploitation of children, receiving child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
Police said a safety plan and supports have also been put in place for the victim.
In the wake of the investigation, police are also providing some safety tips to prevent you from becoming a victim of a similar crime.
Those tips include:
- Do not engage in conversations with strangers.
- Never share intimate images online.
- Do not do anything on camera that you are not comfortable with your friends or family seeing.
If you come across any suspicious Internet activities related to child exploitation, you should contact the Chatham-Kent Police Service or you can also submit a tip online at www.cybertip.ca.
You can also find some Internet safety tips for parents, children, and other Internet users on the CK police website by clicking here.