What to Do If an Online Predator Contacts Your Child

No parent wants to imagine it. But if a predator has reached your child online, the way you respond in the first hours matters more than almost anything else. Panic, blame, or shutting down every device is understandable — and often the exact opposite of what protects your child or preserves the evidence.

The most important truth to hold onto: your child is the victim, not the culprit. Predators deliberately rely on fear and shame to keep kids silent. If your child comes to you, the single best thing you can do is stay calm, thank them for being honest, and make clear this is not their fault. Keep the conversation open. The moment they believe they will be punished, they may stop telling you anything.

Do not delete any messages, chats, or images. Block the contact, but keep the record. Saving screenshots and preserving the device exactly as it is gives law enforcement the trail they need to identify the offender. If you are threatened with blackmail, do not send money or more images — cooperation rarely stops the abuse, but reporting can.

According to the FBI’s online safety guidance for kids and teens, if a child is targeted they should be reassured they are not to blame, the predator should be blocked, all communication preserved, help sought from a trusted adult, and the incident reported to law enforcement. You are not alone in navigating this, and you are not expected to handle it alone.

Report the incident to your local police, submit a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, and keep every piece of evidence intact. Acting quickly gives investigators their best chance — and it tells your child that they are believed and protected.

If you suspect a child is being targeted or exploited online, report it today. The report can be anonymous, and it can make a real difference. Learn more from the FBI’s guide to staying safe online.

You can also report a predator through our Report a Predator page, or install the Report a Pedophile browser plugin to flag suspicious activity directly from your browser.