What To Do If Your Child Was Abused

If you believe your child has been sexually exploited through Roblox or any online platform, taking immediate action can protect your child and help hold perpetrators accountable. This page provides step-by-step guidance for reporting the abuse, preserving evidence, seeking medical care, and accessing support resources.

Ensure Your Child's Immediate Safety

The first priority is protecting your child from further harm. Block the suspected predator on all platforms where your child had contact with them. If your child is in immediate danger or if you believe the predator knows your address or school location, contact local police immediately by calling 911.

If the abuser is someone your child has met in person or if there are threats of physical harm, law enforcement should be contacted immediately. Even if the exploitation occurred entirely online, blocking all communication channels prevents further contact while you take additional protective steps.

Reporting to Law Enforcement

Reporting suspected child sexual exploitation is essential for protecting your child and preventing harm to other children. There are multiple ways to report these crimes to law enforcement authorities.

NCMEC CyberTipline

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children operates the CyberTipline, which is the United States' centralized reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation.[1] The CyberTipline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and accepts reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts, child sexual abuse material, child sex trafficking, sextortion, and other forms of exploitation.[2]

You can file a report online at report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).[1] The online reporting form can be completed in just a few minutes, and you can choose whether to share your contact information. Many fields are optional, so you control what information you provide.[1]

After you submit a report, NCMEC staff review each tip and work to find a potential location for the incident so it can be made available to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.[2] In 2024, NCMEC received more than 546,000 reports of online enticement crimes involving adults communicating with children for sexual purposes, representing a significant increase from previous years.[3]

FBI and Federal Law Enforcement

The FBI investigates crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children through its Violent Crimes Against Children program.[4] FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information provided to the CyberTipline to identify individuals suspected of possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse material, online enticement of children, child sex tourism, and other sexual exploitation of children.[4]

You can also report suspected child exploitation directly to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov.[5] You can also contact your local FBI field office directly.

Local Law Enforcement

You should also file a report with your local police department or sheriff's office. Local law enforcement agencies work with federal investigators and can initiate immediate protective measures. Many communities have specialized units that investigate crimes against children and can coordinate with other agencies involved in your case.

Report to the Platform

While reporting to law enforcement is essential, you should also report the abuser's account to Roblox and any other platforms where the exploitation occurred. This can help prevent the predator from targeting other children. However, platform reporting does not replace reporting to law enforcement, as platforms are not investigative agencies and may not preserve evidence adequately.[6]

Preserve Evidence

Evidence is essential for law enforcement investigations and any potential legal action. The more evidence you can preserve, the better investigators can help.[7]

Do Not Delete Anything

Do not delete messages, images, videos, texts, or any other communications, even if the content is disturbing.[7] These materials will help criminal investigators build their case. The more they know, the better they can help.

Take Screenshots

Capture screenshots of all relevant conversations, user profiles, friend requests, group memberships, and any other interactions with the suspected predator. Include timestamps, usernames, and account information in your screenshots. Save these screenshots to a secure location.

Document Everything

Keep a written record of dates, times, and descriptions of incidents. Note any behavioral changes you observed in your child, any gifts or money they received, and when you first became aware of the exploitation. This documentation can be valuable for law enforcement and mental health professionals.

Preserve Devices

If possible, preserve the device your child used to communicate with the predator. Law enforcement forensic analysts may need to examine the device using specialized protocols to ensure the integrity and preservation of evidence.[6] If you cannot preserve the original device, at minimum save all messages and images to a backup location.

Report Promptly

The sooner you report the crime, the better.[7] Reporting online child sexual exploitation promptly can help stop the perpetrator before they harm other children. Additionally, online platforms are required to preserve reported material for only limited time periods, so timely reporting ensures evidence is available for investigation.

Seek Medical Care

Even if the exploitation occurred entirely online without physical contact, medical evaluation is important to assess your child's physical and emotional health.

Child Advocacy Centers

Child Advocacy Centers provide coordinated, multidisciplinary services for child abuse victims in a safe, child-friendly environment.[8] These centers bring together medical providers, mental health professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors, child protective services, and victim advocates to coordinate services without requiring the child to repeat their story multiple times to different agencies.[8]

Services provided by Child Advocacy Centers typically include forensic medical examinations, forensic interviews, therapy, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, and ongoing case management.[8] All children who are suspected victims of child sexual abuse are entitled to a specialized medical evaluation at a Child Advocacy Center.[9]

Forensic Medical Examination

The forensic medical examination is a comprehensive but non-invasive exam conducted by specially trained medical providers.[9] The exam serves multiple purposes: it ensures the health and well-being of the child, diagnoses and treats any medical conditions related to abuse, collects evidence if reported shortly after abuse, and reassures the child that their body is okay.[9]

The examination is not much different than a typical well-child check-up and takes place in a comfortable, child-friendly room.[10] The child may have a support person present during the exam if they desire. There are never any restraints placed on the child, and the child can choose to stop the exam at any time.[10]

When there are concerns of sexual abuse, the exam might include testing for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy testing when appropriate, and treatment if needed.[11] Following acute sexual assault, forensic evidence may be collected by medical staff. For children reporting physical contact within 72 hours for pre-pubescent children or 120 hours for adolescents, evidence collection becomes especially important.[9]

It is important to understand that the majority of children who are victims of sexual abuse do not have signs of physical injury regardless of the timing of the examination.[8] A normal examination does not mean abuse did not occur. The medical evaluation serves many purposes beyond identifying physical injuries.

Primary Care Follow-Up

Even after a forensic examination, ongoing care with your child's primary care provider is important. They can monitor your child's physical health over time and coordinate with mental health professionals as needed.

Access Mental Health Support

Sexual exploitation causes significant emotional trauma. Professional mental health support is essential for healing.

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline

RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, providing free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones.[12] Since 1994, RAINN's victim service programs have helped over 5 million survivors.[12]

You can reach the hotline by calling 800-656-HOPE (4673), chatting online at online.rainn.org, or texting HOPE to 64673.[13] When you contact the hotline, trained support specialists provide confidential support, listen with genuine compassion and care, and can provide referrals for long-term mental health support, local sexual assault services, and legal or medical needs.[12]

The hotline is completely anonymous. They will never ask for your personal information, and you never need to tell them your name, location, or other identifying information.[12] Most hotline sessions last between 30 to 60 minutes.[12]

Trauma-Focused Therapy

Children who have experienced sexual exploitation often benefit from specialized trauma-focused therapy. Child Advocacy Centers and other mental health providers offer Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based treatment approach that helps children, adolescents, and their caregivers overcome trauma-related experiences.[14]

This therapy is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses following child sexual abuse and has been proven effective in helping abused children heal.[14] Therapy typically involves both the child and non-offending caregivers, as family support is essential for recovery.

Support for Caregivers

Families of exploited children often feel alone in their struggle and overwhelmed by the issues affecting their lives. NCMEC provides assistance and support to victims and families, including crisis intervention and local counseling referrals to appropriate professionals.[2]

NCMEC's Team HOPE is a volunteer program that connects families to others who have experienced the crisis of a sexually exploited child.[2] Having someone to talk with who has been through similar experiences can be invaluable during recovery.

Consider Legal Representation

In addition to criminal investigations by law enforcement, your family may have the right to pursue civil legal action against both the perpetrator and the platform where the exploitation occurred. An experienced attorney can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and represent your family's interests.

Civil lawsuits can seek compensation for medical expenses, therapy costs, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the exploitation. These cases also serve to hold platforms accountable for safety failures and can lead to improved protections for other children.

Many attorneys who handle child exploitation cases offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless your case is successful. This ensures that families have access to legal representation regardless of their financial situation.

Understand the Investigation Process

After you file reports with law enforcement, an investigation will begin. The process varies depending on the specific circumstances of your case, but generally involves several steps.

A law enforcement agent or official will contact you to gather additional information about the case and collect evidence, such as electronic devices.[6] Forensic analysts will collect information and evidence from relevant devices using proper protocols to ensure the integrity and preservation of evidence.[6]

The FBI's Digital Evidence Section conducts forensic analysis of digital evidence seized from computers and other electronic devices in child exploitation cases.[15] This analysis can take time due to the volume of digital evidence and the complexity of investigations, but it is essential for building strong cases against perpetrators.

If there is enough evidence, an arrest will be made. In 2025, the Department of Justice announced results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort that resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in a nationwide crackdown.[5]

Support Your Child Through the Process

Your child needs your support, belief, and reassurance throughout this difficult time. Maintain open communication without judgment. Let your child know they are not in trouble and that what happened was not their fault.

Allow your child to share information at their own pace. Do not pressure them to discuss details they are not ready to talk about. Reassure them that telling someone was the right thing to do and that you will keep them safe.

Be patient with behavioral changes or emotional reactions. Trauma affects children differently, and healing takes time. Continue to provide stability, routine, and love while accessing professional support services.

If your child must participate in legal proceedings, prepare them for what to expect with age-appropriate information. Child Advocacy Centers often provide courtroom preparation services to help children understand the legal process and reduce anxiety about testifying.[14]

Long-Term Healing and Recovery

Healing from sexual exploitation is a process that takes time. There is support available every step of the way. RAINN's resources emphasize that healing is not linear and no two survivor journeys are the same.[16]

Continue to access professional mental health support as needed. Stay connected with victim advocacy resources and support groups. Focus on creating a safe, stable environment where your child feels protected and supported.

Remember that recovery is possible. With appropriate support, children who have experienced exploitation can heal and move forward with their lives. The most important factors are safety, professional support, and the unconditional love and belief of caring adults.