New figures reveal victims lost over £63m to investment fraud scams on social media
Figures released by the City of London Police show criminals continue to use popular social media apps to advertise investment scams and contact potential victims.
Periscope, an app which allows users to broadcast live video streams from anywhere in the world, has been uncovered as a ground for children as young as nine to be contacted by online groomers.
In the app, viewers can send in comments and questions whilst the video is being streamed. The investigation found children using the app in classrooms and their bedrooms, broadcasting to the world, with young people bombarded with sexually explicit messages and requests.
When conducting the investigation, the BBC found a nine year old who was asked by a man to lift up her shirt.
All details collected of the broadcasts were passed on to the Police and child protection charities.
Zero Tolerance For CSE
The BBC reached out to Twitter, the owner of Periscope, who refused an interview, but did offer a statement on their findings:
"We have a strong content moderation policy and encourage viewers to report comments they feel are abusive. We have zero tolerance for any form of child sexual exploitation."
More information on this story can be found in the video by BBC News below:
Child Sexual Exploitation is happening in Warwickshire.
Something’s Not Right is the acclaimed multi agency child sexual exploitation campaign and continues to raise awareness of CSE and offer support in Warwickshire. The campaign encourages people to think about situations they may see or be involved in on a daily basis and if Something’s Not Right seek professional advice and guidance.
Don’t risk ignoring it. Call 01926 684490 to discuss your concerns or visit warwickshirecse.co.uk
