A Pennsylvania State Trooper is warning parents that online predators are increasingly using gaming platforms like Roblox to contact and groom children, and he’s launching a community presentation aimed at helping families understand the risks.
Trooper Rocco Gagliardi of the Pennsylvania State Police says many parents assume Roblox is a harmless, kid‑friendly game. But he argues the platform’s size — and the ability for strangers to message children — has made it a prime entry point for predators.
“Parents would come out to me and say, ‘My kid plays Roblox.’ And I say, ‘No, your kid plays on Roblox,’” Gagliardi said.
Gagliardi spent the past two years researching online predator behavior with assistance from the FBI, other state agencies and online safety organizations. His findings form the basis of a free presentation titled “Roblox Safety and Online Predators,” scheduled for May 26th at General McLane High School.
The program outlines how predators use friend requests, in‑game chats and external apps to build trust with children. Gagliardi says the goal is often to move kids off Roblox entirely and onto less monitored platforms such as Discord.
“The predator’s main goal is to get them actually out of Roblox,” he said. “They don’t want to be in there. That’s where they start, but they want them out to those more free channels of communication.”
Gagliardi also points to what he describes as loopholes in Roblox’s newer safety features. He says account‑selling markets allow adults to purchase child‑verified accounts, making it easier for predators to pose as young players.
“Every other parent assumes, ‘I did this face scan, so they can only talk to 9‑to‑12‑year‑olds,’” he said. “Now you have a 30‑year‑old predator disguising themselves as a 9‑to‑12‑year‑old because they bought that account.”
The presentation will also cover signs of online grooming, how predators use third‑party apps, and what parents should look for on their child’s devices.
Gagliardi says the most important question families should keep in mind is simple: “Who’s on the other end of this line?”
The event is free and open to parents, teachers, youth workers and community members. Gagliardi says families from any school district are encouraged to attend. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation begins at 6 p.m.
