BECKLEY, WV (WOAY)- On Friday, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department met with the Safe Surfin’ Foundation in Beckley. They wanted to learn more about crimes against children online.
Safe Surfin’s mission is to “Implement and continually support internet safety education for all children.” They do this by educating schools, law enforcement, parents, and most importantly, the kids all at no cost.
Safe Surfin was founded by a former police sheriff and federal agent. He says that the cases of child pornography and sextortion are through the roof since he started in his career.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in February alone, there were over 250 thousand reports of child pornography a week.
“What they [the predators] try to do is get these young females, and sometimes boys, but mostly females, to send them pictures of themselves in some sort of sexual act or just nude pictures of themselves. Then they’re blackmailed,” said Sheriff Mike Brown Ret., Founder and Chairman of Safe Surfin’. “That’s what the schools, the teachers, the parents, and law enforcement have to be aware of, that this is going on. The FBI says 24/7 365 days, the predators out there going after our children.”
