Grooming is the process of befriending and establishing an emotional connect in slow, methodical and intentional process of manipulating a person to a point where they can be sexually victimized by the online predator.

The victim is traumatized and suffers immensely both mentally and physically due to the sexual exploitation.

Different stages of child online grooming.

Stage I - Online perpetrators target a child

Action by offender: The offender will pay special attention or give preference to a child.

Purpose: Perpetrators may target and exploit a child's perceived vulnerabilities including: emotional neediness, isolation, neglect, a chaotic home life, or lack of parental oversight, etc.,

Stage II - Gain the child's trust

Action by offender: "I know that you love movies, I can take you to watch a batman movie that you love”

Purpose: Perpetrators work to gain the trust of parents to lower suspicion and gain access by providing seemingly warm yet calculated attention/support.

Stage III - Fill a Need

Action by offender: "I know you love jewelry so I got you this beautiful watch"

Purpose: Once the perpetrator begins to fill the needs, they may assume noticeably more importance in the child's life. Perpetrators utilize tactics such as gift giving, flattery, gifting money, and meeting other basic needs.

Stage IV- Isolate the Child

Action by offender: "You can trust me, we can both go out alone and spend time, because no one understands you the way I do."

Purpose: The perpetrator uses isolation tactics to reinforce their relationship with child by creating situations in which they are alone together. The perperator may even tell the child that no one cares for them the way they do, not even the parents.

Stage V - Sexualize the Relationship

Action by offender: ‘let us do some thing for fun’

Purpose: Once emotional dependence and trust have been built, the perpetrator progressively sexualizes the relationship. This occurs through talking, pictures, and creating situations in which both are naked (swimming).

Stage VI- Maintain Control

Action by offender: "If you tell anyone, we both could go to jail, We won't be able to be together." Or "If you tell anyone, something bad could happen to your family."

Purpose: Once sexual abuse is occurring, perpetrators commonly use secrecy, blame, and threats to maintain participation and continued silence. In order to maintain control, perpetrators use emotional manipulation.

Recognize Red Flag Behaviour

• Special attention given to you
• Giving gifts with or without any reason
• Touching or hugging
• Sympathetic listener
• Offers to help family