February 27 2024- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has released a new analysis of 476 cases of children who were lured out of their homes and reported missing between 2020 and 2023. The cases involved online enticement, including grooming, sextortion, and sharing explicit content, leading to serious scenarios where offenders met with the child to commit sexual offenses or abduction. The analysis aims to inform parents, caregivers, law enforcement, and other professionals working to prevent such crimes and safely recover missing children. Notable findings include the age differences between offenders and children, with 41% of offenders being over 10 years older than the child, and insights into how offenders meet with children in person. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding and addressing vulnerabilities to protect children from online enticement.
https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2024/online-enticement-new-analysis-blog
