KUALA LUMPUR – Parents have been advised to remain vigilant and observe any changes in their children’s behaviour to prevent them from becoming targets of online sexual offences, including sextortion.
SAC Siti Kamsiah Hassan, the principal assistant director of Bukit Aman’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division D11, warned that cyber threats now reach into homes through digital devices, making online crime no longer confined to public spaces, Bernama reported.
“Children today spend more time in the digital world than ever before. Parents should take note of any changes in their children’s routines, especially if they become less physically active and engage more with online platforms and games,” Siti Kamsiah stated. “A child who stays in their room might not necessarily be ‘good’—parents must monitor their online interactions and social circles.”
She made the comments at the “Internet Selamat, Tanggungjawab Semua” forum, held in conjunction with Safer Internet Day (HKI) 2026 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.
Rising emotional distress
Siti Kamsiah further emphasised that emotional shifts, such as social withdrawal, frequent crying, or signs of depression, could signal a child’s involvement in sextortion. She cited previous cases where victims became increasingly isolated and experienced drastic emotional changes, with some suffering in silence for months before being detected.
“Children who show signs of emotional distress, such as crying or withdrawing socially, may be victims of grooming, which often leads to sextortion,” she explained.
Sexual crimes on the rise
In a related development, Siti Kamsiah highlighted the alarming rise in sexual crimes involving children, with an average of 1,500 cases reported annually nationwide. Unfortunately, many of these cases are only detected when victims are found in critical situations, such as being pregnant, running away from home, or being noticed by third parties like doctors or teachers.
“Devices are a gateway for predators to manipulate children. Without early detection, the risk of mental stress and self-harm is significantly higher,” she warned.
Siti Kamsiah also urged parents to educate themselves on digital parenting to protect their children from the increasing complexities of cybercrime. She noted that many child sexual abuse cases have been uncovered, with over 880,000 digital files containing child sexual abuse material seized during the integrated Ops Pedo 2.0 as of September last year. – February 8, 2026