⏱️ Scammed or unsure? 60-second plan
1 · Protect money
Call your bank's fraud line now — the number on the back of your card. Freeze the card and ask them to reverse any payments.
2 · Keep evidence
Screenshot texts, emails, caller numbers and payment screens. Change passwords and turn on 2-step verification.
3 · Report it
Report through your country's official channel — see the report page.
📌 More help: Report → · Help & support
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Child Protection & Online-Safety Hub
Practical help for parents, teachers and young people across the Gulf — warning signs of grooming and sextortion, golden rules for children, safeguarding steps for schools and the official reporting route in every GCC country. No scaremongering — just what to do.
⚔️ WE FEAR NO ONE · لا نخشى أحدًا
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For parents & carers
The essentials and the warning signs that matter.
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For young people
Golden rules and what to do if something feels wrong.
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For schools & teachers
Safeguarding steps and classroom support.
👨👩👧 For parents & carers — the essentials
Five habits that protect a child more than any single app setting — and open the door for them to tell you when something goes wrong.
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Talk regularly, without judgement — make online life a normal topic, not a lecture. Ask who they talk to, what games they play, and what feels weird.
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Agree family rules together — screen times, shared spaces for devices, no secret accounts, and a promise that they will never be in trouble for telling you.
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Keep accounts private — private profiles, no public posts, no location sharing, and review settings every time a new app is installed.
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Use strong unique passwords and two-factor authentication on every account that offers it — including gaming accounts.
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Teach the pause — before sharing personal information, photos, school details or live location: pause, think, ask.
⚠️ Warning signs of online grooming
Grooming follows a pattern. Spotting any stage early is how families and schools stop it before abuse happens.
🎯 1 · Targeting & friendship
A stranger makes contact through games, social media or messaging, then builds a “friendship” fast — flattery, shared interests, feeling “understood”. They may pose as a young person or as a helpful adult.
🎁 2 · Gifts & trust-building
Gifts, game currency, data top-ups or small amounts of money create obligation and secrecy. “Keep this our secret — no one else would understand.”
🧍 3 · Isolation & secrecy
The abuser turns the child against family and friends, moves chats to private apps, and insists conversations stay hidden. Watch for sudden secretiveness, new private accounts or deleted messages.
⚠️ 4 · Testing boundaries
Sexualised talk, “jokes”, requests for photos or for the child to do things on camera — starting small and escalating. The child is made to feel it is normal or their fault.
🚨 5 · Control & meeting
Pressure, threats or blackmail to meet in person or continue the abuse. This is the crisis stage — act immediately, keep evidence and report.
🔒 Sextortion & image-sharing — what to do
1️⃣
Never pay. Paying does not stop it — the demands will continue.
2️⃣
Stop contact immediately and do not delete anything — screenshots and chat history are evidence.
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The child is never at fault. Keep them calm, supported and blame-free — shame is exactly what the abuser exploits.
4️⃣
Report through the official channel in your country and to the platform where the abuse happened.
🧒 For young people — golden rules
1️⃣
You are never in trouble for telling a trusted adult. If something online feels wrong, scary or secret — tell.
2️⃣
Never share your OTP, PIN, password or personal photos — not with friends, not with anyone.
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A stranger who gives gifts, keeps secrets or asks to move to a private chat is dangerous — block them and tell.
4️⃣
Nobody legitimate ever asks you to do things on camera or to keep a “game” secret from your parents.
5️⃣
If someone pressures, threatens or blackmails you — it is not your fault. Screenshot it, stop replying and tell an adult now.
🏫 For schools & teachers
📋 Safeguarding escalation steps
1) Record: save messages and screenshots without replying. 2) Assess: is this grooming, sextortion or another risk? 3) Support: the child is never at fault — keep them calm and blame-free. 4) Report through the official channel in your country, and call the police emergency number for immediate danger. Full classroom lesson ideas are on the Schools hub.
🚨 Report it officially
Every Gulf country has an official reporting channel. Reporting through the official route is what triggers action — use the Report page for the right portal and number in your country.
Find my country’s channel →🆘 A child is upset, scared or in immediate danger? Call your country’s police emergency number now — UAE 999 · Saudi Arabia 911 · Qatar 999 · Kuwait 112 · Bahrain 999 · Oman 9999. Then use the Help page for calming first steps and emotional support. Open Help →