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

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

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

The information on the signs often includes the child’s full name, 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 pics, and we want to see them, but there are ways to do it while maintaining privacy and safety,” he said.

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

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

An important back-to-school message:

A tradition has emerged on social media where parents proudly post pictures of their kids with their back to school sign. Unfortunately, parents often offer too much information that may be used by predators and scammers. #backtoschool #bpd pic.twitter.com/YiF6QPEgqB

— Brookline PD (@BrooklineMAPD) August 26, 2024