Muscat – Online games are increasingly becoming digital communities where children and teenagers can communicate directly with strangers, creating new risks of cyber blackmail, grooming, bullying and exploitation, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has warned.

Brig Gen Jamal bin Habib Al Quraishi, Director General of Criminal Investigations, said the rapid development of electronic games and integrated voice, video and chat services had created environments that could be exploited by people with criminal intentions to target children.

He said such incidents could begin with an offender building a relationship of trust with a child before moving to inappropriate conversations or requests.

In some cases, children have been persuaded to photograph family members and send images or videos to blackmailers, who later use the material to threaten and extort.

The risks extend beyond bullying, threats and exposure to inappropriate content, with children potentially being influenced into behaviour that conflicts with social values or even being recruited for violent or illegal activities, Brig Gen Al Quraishi said.

He urged families to remain alert to sudden changes in a child’s behaviour or psychological state. “Warning signs may include sadness, anxiety, fear of losing access to a mobile phone, unusual secrecy about the device, repeated lying, taking money from home, theft or other behaviour that is out of character.”

He stressed that parents should avoid responding with anger, threats or harsh criticism when they suspect a child is being blackmailed.

“Blame and intimidation may make children afraid to tell their parents what has happened,” he said, stressing that the priority should be protecting and supporting the child and encouraging full disclosure.

Families should preserve messages, photographs, videos and account details connected to the incident and report the matter quickly to the relevant authorities. They should not delete evidence, attempt to identify the blackmailer themselves or confront the person, as tracking and dealing with the offender should be left to the specialised authorities.

Brig Gen Al Quraishi said the ROP deals with cyber blackmail reports seriously and confidentially, particularly when the victim is a child or minor. “The focus is on protecting the victim, preserving digital evidence, stopping the blackmail, identifying the perpetrator and taking legal action, even when fake accounts or false personal details are used.”

Cybersecurity specialist Mohammed bin Said Al Rubaie said gaming and chat platforms such as Discord, Steam and Roblox also expose users to phishing, malicious software, identity theft, financial scams and online grooming.

He said attackers may send malicious links promising free virtual currency or rare in-game items, directing players to fake login pages designed to steal account details. Users may also be tricked into downloading cheating tools, game modifications or untrusted files containing malware.

Al Rubaie advised keeping gaming identities separate from personal identities. “Players should avoid usernames, email addresses and profiles that reveal their real names, age, school or location.”

He also urged families to strengthen privacy settings, restrict messages and friend requests to known users, avoid opening suspicious links or files and refrain from storing bank card details on gaming platforms where possible.

ROP also called on families to stay close to their children, understand the games and platforms they use and maintain open communication so that children know that asking for help is never a reason for punishment or shame.