A fake ad created by the Durham police offering sex with minors received over 6,600 views over four days, according to officers.
The ad is part of an on-going initiative titled Project Firebird which focuses on individuals interested in purchasing sexual services from children, as well as providing education and support to victims or potential victims.
The Ad involved undercover officers who posed as minors on the internet.
“The ad was visited 6678 times in a four-day period and received messages from over 600 different phone numbers,” Durham police said in a media release on Thursday.
So far, investigators have arrested five individuals and laid 15 charges this month, thanks to the initiative.
According to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, over the past year, cybertip.ca witnessed a 31 per cent rise in the overall online victimization of children.
Cybertip.ca Director Stephen Sauer explains what patterns the organization is currently seeing in its tipline and what needs to be done to address it.
“We see offenders intensifying control tactics, increasing the use of humiliation, and utilizing multiple accounts to target youth. One of the most concerning trends is that, in a lot of cases, youth are not telling anyone about what they’re going through,” he said in a statement to Now Toronto.
“It is critical we teach youth skills that help them navigate online situations safely and where to go for help, but we also know more must be done to safeguard them online. Since the devices, kids have provide predators with 24-7 access to them in their schools, homes, and bedrooms, government regulation is a necessary step to protect children,” he continued.
Anyone with any information about child sexual exploitation or human trafficking in Durham Region is being asked to contact Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
