OAKES, N.D. – The Oakes Police Department and Dickey County State’s Attorney Kimberly Radermacher issue a public safety warning for a criminal network they say federal and multi-state law enforcement have identified as targeting children through online gaming platforms and social media apps.
That includes Discord, Roblox, TikTok and Instagram.
Oakes Police says people contact children posing as friends and use threats to manipulate children to expose their personal information or contact their families and schools.
Warning signs may include kids being secreative about online activity and having conversations with people they’ve never met, unexplained gifts or gift card requests, signs of anxiety or behavioral changes.
Police say parents should talk openly with their child about who they’re speaking with online, review apps on their child’s device, save suspicious messages and contact law enforcement with any concerns.
If you need help, call Oakes Police at 701-742-2172. Online exploitation of children can be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or cybertipline.org.
