Predators may be using back-to-school sign photos to target kids, police warn

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“Everyone wants to share those adorable photos, and we want to see them, but there are ways to do it while maintaining privacy and security.”

With the upcoming school year just around the corner, police are warning parents not to share too much detailed information about their children online.

“A tradition has emerged on social media where parents proudly post pictures of their children with their school leaving badge.” Brookline Police Sgt. says Robert Disario in a video the department posted on X. “Unfortunately, parents often offer too much information that can be used by predators and scammers.”

The information on the signs often includes the child’s full name, the name of the school they attend, their grade and their age, Disario said.

The fear, Disario said, is that the information shared could “be used to commit a crime.”

“Everyone wants to share these adorable photos, and we want to see them, but there are ways to do that while maintaining privacy and security,” he said.

Disario recommends omitting the child’s last name and the name of their school, as well as changing social media settings to ensure that only family and friends can see the post.

“The safest method is to keep personal information to a minimum,” Disario said. “With these simple safety tips, we will have a great school year.”