Who are the victims?

The victim of online grooming could be anyone. The most receptive though, are lonely people who needs someone to talk to and who will understand them. Also vulnerable people with low self-esteem who searches for someone to acknowledge and accept them. The fact that people don't know how to protect themselves and their privacy on the internet, certainly doesn't help either. The online groomers take advantage of their ignorance and  naivety and manipulates them to believe they are trustworthy and caring friends.

Here is an example:

11 year old Nikolai had online contact with a 28 year old man through a longer period. The man was so understanding and caring, and always supportive when Nikolai felt alone and friend-less in school. At one point where Nikolai was really sad, the man asked for his phone number so he could call and comfort him. He called him and for a long time they had daily contact via text messages and phone calls. Nikolai kept his acquaintance to the 28 year old secret to his parents, as he feared their reaction. After several months of daily contact, the man suggests them to meet and have an ice cream together. When Nikolai arrives to the place where they were supposed to meet, he gets brutally raped.

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