DARTMOUTH — Teenagers need to be careful about who they talk to on the internet and parents need to be aware of what their children are doing on social media, said Dartmouth Police Det. Kyle Costa, whose department has investigated three social media scams within the last three weeks.
Costa said another local law enforcement agency has investigated two recent ones as well. The victims lately have been teenagers and one young adult; the social media platforms have been Snapchat and Instagram, he said.
In a recent Facebook post and in an interview with the Standard-Times, Costa said the victims have been groomed by the alleged scammers, who have, in some cases, asked for photos including requests for explicit photos of private parts.
“It is a scam that has been around for a while. It emerges every so often,” Costa said, adding,“The internet and social media is a dangerous place. You never know who you are talking to.”
Driver safety:This historic Westport rock became a hazard. So the town moved it.
Costa said he warns alleged victims that sending a picture of a private part over the internet could lead to an embarrassing situation down the road.
“This foolish act now requires the investigator(s) to write detailed reports — you guessed it — on which your name goes, and of which remains on file forever. Probably not the best thing when it comes to a background check later on in life by an employer who wants to see just how good your decision making…
