Kingston Police warning parents to beware of ‘questionable job offers for youth online’

Kingston Police along with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection are wanting to make parents aware of concerns regarding online requests involving perspective job opportunities for youths.

According to the local police, Cybertip.ca has been contacted by individuals who believe their legitimate business names have been used to lure youth for the purpose of exploitation.

“These individuals are contacting teens through social media, portraying themselves as associated with a legitimate business that is offering job opportunities such as modelling,” Kingston Police said in a press release on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019.

“Kingston Police and Cybertip.ca is also aware of situations where youth have responded to online postings related to employment opportunities and during the additional communication with the prospective employer, sexual requests are made to youth.”

Police are strongly encouraging parents and teens to take the necessary steps to verify the legitimacy of any prospective online job opportunities.

Kingston Police suggest parents and guardians speak to youth about the importance of:

• Checking out any potential job opportunities with a parent/guardian. Having another person hear about what you have been offered can help identify if it sounds legitimate.
• Taking the time to verify the information being presented. Beyond what the person contacting you has provided, research the company name that has been given. Check to see if the person contacting you actually works for the company. Contact them through the phone number or email address provided on their official site, as opposed to the contact information (phone/email address/other) the person contacting you has provided.
• Trusting your instincts: If anything about the situation seems weird or questionable, pay attention to this warning signal. Our bodies are designed to warn us of potential danger.
• Remembering that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.

Parents can find more information on discussions they can have with teens related to identifying situations involving online exploitation and luring at Cybertip.ca