EFFINGHAM CO., GA (WTOC) -
There's a dark side of the Internet, and law enforcement wants you to know about it. Online chatrooms may seem like a safe way to meet people from across the world, but they can be especially dangerous for children.
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie believes online predators are "sitting, waiting for some of these young folks to get on that computer so they can become some of their newest victims."
He told WTOC there's no way of enforcing age requirements in these chat rooms, and some people simply float from room to room hoping to find a young, vulnerable child to take advantage of. McDuffie said although the technology is getting better to catch these predators, it's also getting easier for them to hide.
"The Internet's been one of the best things we've ever had. It's also been one of the worst things we've ever had. There's been more crimes facilitated off the Internet than any single device," he said.
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