TULSA, Okla. –
Q: How many tips does the OSBI receive?
“We get thousands of tips. Our Internet Crimes Against Children Unit receives around 1,000 tips each month. Last year, in 2024, the cyber tips our team received was close to 10,000, and that has gone up since then. As of the end of July, we’re at about 8,000 tips.”
Q: What happens when you get a tip like this?
“Once we receive those tips, the goal at first is to just build that case. It starts with just a couple of pics, possibly, of child sexual abuse material. From there, you’re trying to identify who the suspect is, where the suspect lives, and then you’re reaching out to the law enforcement agency within our Internet Crimes Task Force affiliates. Then we work with them to track down that suspect and get them off the streets.”
Q: What’s your advice to parents about internet safety?
“When you hear those numbers, it should be concerning. But the good thing is, there is a way to combat that. There are settings on your phone, on your devices… where you can look at everything your child is looking at. Monitor everything your children are going through, especially if school’s about to start.”
Q: Who should parents contact if they’re concerned?
“You can reach out to us at the OSBI or your local law enforcement.”
