Criminals who utilise the internet to target people are continually perfecting their methods warns Wagga detective.
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Riverina Police Detective Inspector Phil Malligan said people must be smart online.
His comments come in the wake of research, published on Sunday, revealed 63 per cent of parents fail to secure their devices with passwords, and 55 per cent allow their children unsupervised access online.
The survey of 2000 Australians over the age of 18, commissioned by child abuse prevention agency Act for Kids, also found 67 per cent of parents to children under 12 feel they need more education on how to protect children from accessing inappropriate content.
Inspector Malligan said even by looking at the number of scams, and it is evident that online crime is an issue.
"We have got the most socially-connected group of adolescents that we have ever had," he said.
"For that reason, they are very well-versed in the internet, they are learning things that are away ahead of the environment.
"Then the people that are out there, for what doesn't work the first time, they will try a second time."
Inspector Malligan said with the number of online communication apps, it is crucial parents start conversations with their child about how to be safe.
"It is always timely to keep an eye on how much time your child is spending on the internet and what websites they are visiting," he said.
"The inherent danger is that who they are speaking to may not be who it seems to be.
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"Ensure you are able to access your child's social media content and randomly check the contents."
Inspector Malligan encouraged parents to allow their children to show them their favourite apps.
He added one of the most critical aspects is never to give out personal details online.
Inspector Malligan said one issue the police district is dealing with is sexting.
"We need to be able to stay on top of that, so it's not distributed," he said.
"We need to inform the students."
Inspector Malligan urged young people never to meet someone they have met online.
"Be open with your carers, parents or another adult to chat if someone is making you feel uncomfortable," he said.
"Think carefully about uploading or sending images over the internet, because once it's up, it's up."