Dubai Police have issued a fresh warning to parents about predators who use online games to reach children, after a single child’s report exposed a pattern of abuse affecting at least nine others.
The force said offenders target children and teenagers through video games and social media, exploiting their trust to obtain personal information and photos that are then used for blackmail or impersonation.
A report that uncovered a pattern
The warning follows a case in which a 13-year-old boy reported that he had been lured through an online game by a man offering in-game privileges in exchange for personal photographs. His decision to come forward mattered. Investigators found that the same suspect had previously blackmailed nine other children.
The case shows how one report can protect many other children. It also shows why police want families to speak up early rather than handle problems privately.
How contact can begin
Police said offenders may pose as fellow players, build friendships and gradually seek sensitive information. A chat about a favourite game can become an offer of upgrades or special treatment. The tactic is not limited to one game or platform, and offenders also approach children through social media and messaging apps.
Child-safety specialists generally describe a similar progression elsewhere. It moves from friendly attention and gifts to requests for secrecy, then to moving the conversation to a private channel. Parents do not need to memorise a script. The warning signs are an adult stranger who is unusually generous, who wants contact away from the game, or who asks the child to keep things from the family.
Evidence first, then block
One of the clearest messages from the forum concerned what to do after contact. Dubai Police stressed reporting immediately, keeping digital evidence, and not being satisfied with simply blocking abusive accounts. Blocking may stop the messages. It also removes the trail that investigators need, and it leaves the offender free to approach someone else.
Officials also pointed to what families publish themselves. They noted that a photo of a child in school uniform can be enough to reveal which school the child attends. Parents should think about what their own posts reveal.
Police and technology companies at the table
The warning came at an awareness forum organised by the Dubai Police General Command, through its General Department of Criminal Investigation, in partnership with Meta Global. The forum discussed the risks of online grooming, ways to make the digital space safer for children and teenagers, and the roles of security agencies, families and technology companies. The event followed another cooperation announcement a day earlier between Dubai Police and Meta on cybersecurity awareness and fraud.
Practical steps for families
Dubai Police and other UAE authorities have repeated similar guidance in recent months:
- Know which games and apps your children use, and who they talk to.
- Use parental controls and age-appropriate settings.
- Teach children not to share personal details or move to a private chat with someone they have never met in person.
- Keep the conversation open, so that a child who feels uneasy knows they will not be punished for telling you.
Suspected online crimes can be reported through the Dubai Police app, the website, the e-Crime platform, or by calling 901.
Why this matters now
Games are no longer just entertainment. They are social spaces where children talk to people they have never met, often through voice and text chat. That is part of their appeal, and it is also why safety experts urge parents to treat them like any other place where children spend unsupervised time.
For parents, the main lesson from this case is simple. A child who tells you about an uncomfortable contact is doing the right thing. Respond calmly, keep the evidence, and report it. As this case shows, doing so can protect other children as well.
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