COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Online predators are increasingly using popular apps and gaming platforms to target children, and investigators in central Ohio say the threat is growing as technology makes it easier for criminals to hide.
“They are targeting kids because they think they are going to be able to victimize them easier than maybe an adult,” said Sgt. Mike Weiner, commander of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The task force investigates crimes involving the online exploitation of children, including child pornography. Weiner said predators often seek out digital spaces where children spend time.
“They just go into sites that they know are popular with kids,” Weiner said. “They will try to start conversations and go from there.”
The warnings come amid heightened concern following the discovery of the remains of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, who had been missing for nearly a month and whose remains were found buried in Wayne National Forest in southern Ohio. Investigators say Tyler Thomas, of Columbus, picked up Buzbee at her suburban Indianapolis home after the two met on a gaming platform and communicated on encrypted messaging apps for more than a year.
“That was a worst-case scenario,” Weiner said.
Thomas is facing federal charges in connection with Buzbee’s disappearance. He has not been charged in her death, and he has said he did not hurt Buzbee and is not responsible for her death.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was not involved in the Buzbee case, but Weiner said the details have weighed heavily on investigators.
“It’s horrible,” he said. “It hit every investigator on our task force very hard. The reason we do what we do is try to prevent things like that from happening.”
Law enforcement is urging parents to talk with their children about who they meet online and on social media, noting that predators rarely focus on just one child.
“They are going to cast a wide net,” Weiner said. “They are going to target as many people as possible because one or two of them may end up falling prey to them.”
Investigators recommend steps to reduce risk, including never providing personal information such as addresses or banking information, protecting passwords, and not sending inappropriate videos or photos. Children also are being reminded not to post identifiable information that could be used to locate them.
“If they are trying to isolate you from your parents or friends, that would be a direct red flag,” Weiner said.
The task force said arrests have risen dramatically in recent years, with 25 in 2022, compared to 58 last year.
Weiner said emerging technology also is complicating investigations, including the use of artificial intelligence to deceive victims.
“Absolutely, you think of catfishing,” Weiner said. “AI is making it that much harder to spot. It’s something we see more and more of every day.”
