The world of the Internet offers many opportunities to make friends, maintain contacts and discover new things. But it is also a playground for fraudsters and criminals who target careless and unsuspecting users. Cybergrooming, sextortion and catfishing are just some of the dangers that young people can encounter on the Internet.

Catfishing – When the supposed online date is a scammer

Catfishing refers to pretending to be a false identity in order to gain the trust of other Internet users and subsequently manipulate or exploit them. Catfishers often use social media and dating apps to make their victims emotionally or financially dependent. They pretend to be attractive, interesting and likeable people who they really are not, and hide their true intentions.

Cybergrooming – abuse of trust with sexual ulterior motives

Cybergrooming refers to the targeted targeting and manipulation of minors on the Internet for sexual purposes. The perpetrators often pose as people of the same age or slightly older in order to gain the trust of young people. As a result, they try to persuade their victims to perform sexual acts or to get them to send them lewd or pornographic images and videos of themselves.

Sextortion – blackmail with intimate photos and videos

Sextortion is a form of blackmail in which perpetrators force their victims to provide them with intimate photos or videos of themselves by threatening to publish existing material. Often the victims have previously fallen victim to cybergrooming or catfishing and have already confided intimate content to the perpetrators.


Tips for young people – What should they pay attention to when making online contacts?

  1. Be careful with new online contacts

Young people should always be careful when making new online acquaintances and not reveal personal information too carelessly. It is advisable to first find out whether the person you are communicating with is actually real. This includes asking about mutual friends, carefully reviewing the contact's profile and photos, and perhaps even offering a video call to verify the person's authenticity.

  1. Do not share intimate photos or videos

Sending intimate photos or videos always carries the risk that they will fall into the wrong hands and be misused. Young people should therefore be careful not to send such content to others, even if they trust the person. It's always better to be safe and keep such content to yourself.

  1. If you feel unwell, break off contact

If young people feel uncomfortable in an online conversation or notice that the other person is crossing boundaries, they should not hesitate to break off contact. It is important to listen to your own gut feeling and take yourself and your own needs seriously.

  1. Involve parents and confidants

Young people should involve their parents or other trusted people in their online activities and speak openly about their experiences. This means they can count on support and advice when they find themselves in difficult situations or feel unsafe.

  1. Use the privacy settings

Social media and other platforms often offer extensive setting options to protect your own privacy. Young people should use these functions and design their profiles so that they reveal as little personal information as possible and can only be viewed by trusted contacts.

  1. Find out about common scams

It is important that young people learn about common scams such as catfishing, cybergrooming and sextortion and know how to protect themselves against them. This is the only way they can recognize possible dangers early and react appropriately.

  1. Seek help if necessary

If young people find themselves in a threatening or stressful situation, it is important that they do not hesitate to seek help. Parents, teachers, school social workers or external advice centers can offer valuable support and find solutions together with those affected.

Conclusion: The dangers of catfishing, cybergrooming and sextortion are real and should be taken seriously by young people. A healthy skepticism towards new online contacts, knowledge of scams and open communication with trusted people are essential steps to protect yourself from these risks. Ultimately, however, the responsibility for safe online use lies with each individual. Also remember that prevention and education are the most important tools to protect your children in the digital world and help them move safely and confidently.

In line with this topic:

Strong against cyberbullying: Protect your children from harassment on the Internet
Cybergrooming: Girls are more likely to be affected
Cybergrooming: Sexual harassment in online games
“Sextortion”: Increasing numbers of cases of online flirting
Blackmail email: “I know about your sexual interest in small children”


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )