Criminals utilize social media to find victims

Criminals utilize social media platforms to target both children and adults. (Photo: Sudbury Patch)

Criminals utilize social media to victimize

LAS VEGAS WORLD NEWS — Social media is a great way to meet new people, but criminals utilize social media too.

The explosion of social media has forever changed the way that people communicate with each other. Utilizing Facebook and Twitter, for example, people from all over the world can meet and get to know one another using a laptop or even a smartphone.

To many it seems like a safe way to get to get to know others before deciding to meet with them in person.

Jobs from Indeed

jobs by

Children are especially vulnerable to predators they meet online.

When savvy criminals utilize social media platforms they set up profiles with fake names and photographs and conduct enough preliminary research to convince potential victims that they are their friend.

If children are unaware of privacy settings on Facebook, for example, predators are often able to gain information about their intended victim’s likes and dislikes and can tailor their approach to successfully engage the child in conversation.

Sometimes they can even persuade children to meet with them placing the child they targeted in extreme danger which is why parents are advised to closely monitor their children’s Internet activities.

But kids are not the only victims. Adults have been victimized as well by people they have met online.

While a substantial portion of online crimes target those seeking romantic relationships, criminals utilize social media in many others ways.

A mother and son brutally beat and robbed a man they online.

Two women were raped by a man they met online who said he had the powers to spiritually cleanse them.

Other victims have had their homes burglarized by an online acquaintance who knew they would be away on vacation.

Although the majority of people that use social media will not become a crime victim it’s important to understand that criminals utilize social media platforms in increasingly creative ways on a regular basis to find victim.

Follow