Previously Issued Cybertip.ca Alerts
Fake Images Cause Real Harm: AI and Deepfakes
With most youth having more time to spend online this summer, one concerning trend to be aware of online is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create “deepfakes.”
Cybertip.ca receives reports of extreme harm facilitated on Discord®
Cybertip.ca has received 800+ reports involving serious harm being facilitated on Discord over the past 12 months1. Many of these reports deal with extreme violence happening to 13 - 17-year-olds on the platform.
Tinder-style app for teens poses sextortion danger: Cybertip.ca recommends parents consider removing Wizz from devices
Parents may not have heard of it, but the Wizz™ app has millions of users and it is important to find out if your child is one of them. Cybertip.ca®, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, is warning parents and caregivers about the dangers of Wizz and recommending parents consider removing the app from their children’s phones.
Cybertip.ca receives increase in reports of children exposed to sexual violence on Omegle
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) wants to make parents aware of an increased number of reports about Omegle, a website that enables randomized video and text chats between users.
Risk of luring, grooming, and online violence for kids on Discord®
Over the past three years, reports regarding the popular social networking app Discord to Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, have steadily increased. In the last year alone, reports rose by 26% compared to 2021 and by 317% when compared to 2019.
Age altering filters mislead victims
One of the tactics used to manipulate youth is pretending to be the same age, along with alleging they are from the same area, or have mutual friends, to make them seem more trustworthy or legitimate.
Think twice before accepting help with removing images online for a fee
Cybertip.ca warns parents that victims of sextortion are at risk of additional harm by organizations or individuals that claim they can help get intimate images and videos (commonly known as nudes) back or removed for a fee.
Dangerous Reality: What parents need to know about the metaverse
Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting online child sexual abuse and exploitation, is urging parents to be aware of the metaverse and the emerging risks that may come along with children and teens being in the largely unrestricted virtual space.
Hacking Snapchat® accounts or using the threat of hacking to sextort teens
Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, is seeing an alarming trend in reports from teens who have had their Snapchat accounts hacked and had their intimate images or videos shared on the social media platform.
Alarming escalation in sextortion tactics targeting teens
Cybertip.ca is seeing an escalation in tactics being used by offenders to sextort teens. This comes on the heels of the tipline’s most recent alert that warned parents of a 62% increase in reports of teens being sextorted over the past six months, with males, ages 15‑17, being a particular focus.
Further rise in the sextortion of male teens
Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, has seen a 62% increase in reports of teens being sextorted over the past six months, with males, ages 15–17, being the biggest target.
New Sextortion Tactics Reported to Cybertip.ca
Cybertip.ca has started to receive reports of a new concerning sextortion tactic. Offenders are superimposing a youth’s face in a video or photo to make it look like they are nude or engaging in a sex act. Then they demand the youth send them money or gift cards, or they will send the video or photo to the victim’s friends and family.
What are “cappers” and why do parents need to know?
With kids spending more time online during COVID‑19, individuals looking to exploit children online are sharing “best practices” for targeting and abusing children during this pandemic.
Keeping Kids Safe Online While Out of School
With school closures due to COVID‑19, children who are at home will potentially have more unrestricted time online. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, through its program Cybertip.ca, is urging families to have conversations about internet safety and to work together to implement strategies that ensures everyone’s digital well‑being.
Safety Concerns with Cake — Live Stream Video Chat app
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, through its Cybertip.ca program, wants to make parents aware of the app Cake — Live Stream Video Chat and its risks for teens after recently learning about the app and its significant volume of sexual content.
Sarahah: Parents Need to Know About New “Honesty” App
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection wants to make parents aware of a popular new anonymous feedback app called Sarahah, now one of the most popular downloads in the App Store.
Parents Be Aware of Safety Concerns with Snapchat’s New Snap Map Feature
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, through its Cybertip.ca program, wants to make parents aware of a concerning new location-sharing feature on Snapchat, an app that lets users send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after a set time.
Roblox: Parents Be Aware of Chat Feature in Gaming Platform for Kids
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection wants to make parents aware of concerns in a popular gaming environment called Roblox.
Live.me: Safety Considerations for Parents
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection wants to make parents aware of concerns about youth using a popular live streaming mobile app Live.me. The app allows its users to post live broadcasts and receive “tips” from other users for completing specific tasks during live broadcasts.
Pokémon Go App: Safety Considerations for Parents
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection wants to make parents aware of some child safety considerations around the game app Pokémon Go. This app uses the device’s GPS and camera to find virtual Pokémon characters everywhere the user goes.