Online sex abuse cases not characterized by deception, abduction and force, research shows

"Far from the stereotype of unsuspecting children kidnapped by strangers posing as people their own age, most young Internet sex-abuse victims are teenagers who know they're corresponding with adults interested in having sex, according to a new study. [...]
Only 5 percent of the offenders tried to conceal that they were adults, and only 21 percent lied about their motives, mostly by promising love and romance."
"Few offenders used force (5%) or coercion (16%) or abduction (3%) to sexually abuse their victims."
"Half of the victims were described as being in love with or feeling close bonds with the offenders"

[Research done by: Janis Wolak, M.A., J.D., David Finkelhor, Ph.D., and Kimberly Mitchell, Ph.D., of the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.]

source: Article 'Study: Web sex victims mostly teens' by Marie Szaniszlo; news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=38189; (Another article about this study: 'Online sex abuse cases not characterized by deception, abduction and force, research shows'; www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2004/08/online-sex-abuse ); Boston Herald; 2 August 2004