How to beat groomers.

INTERNET GROOMERS are more than the bogeymen of childhood nightmares.

They really are lurking out there, says Netsafe executive director Martin Cocker, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your children.

Many parents who were on the lookout for predators targeting smaller children or girls might be shocked to hear of a 28-year-old woman grooming boys, he said.

A typical groomer used a fake profile to develop an emotional online relationship with the victim, pushing the idea that he or she had more understanding of the victim than anybody else.

The message was: ``I understand you. Your parents don't understand you and your teachers don't understand you.''

Cocker said there were several keys to guarding against groomers.

``If you've never met a person and your friends can't vouch for their existence, it's wise to assume that they are fictional.''

He said it was important to be wary at all times, especially on social networks.

Cocker said parents needed to truthfully warn their children of potential risks and grooming methods. ``Be honest with them,'' even if they were quite young.

Groomers can be reported at www.theorb.org.nz, a portal linked to the police.