Decoy DAWGs
Defense Against Web Groomers
Predators are in the apps your kids use every day. Decoy Dawgs documents what they say, reports every case to the authorities who can act, and shows parents exactly what to watch for. We don't look away. Neither should you.
Decoy Dawgs is a community-driven operation that documents how predators talk to children online and reports every case through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline and platform channels.
Every figure sourced from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 2025 CyberTipline Annual Report and federal law enforcement data. Nothing estimated. Nothing softened.
The predator people imagine asks something obviously wrong and gets caught. The one that goes unreported builds trust patiently. Here is the real pattern — one that every parent and educator needs to recognize.
Predators scan for children who appear lonely, post about family conflict, or seem socially isolated. They look for the ones who would benefit most from "someone who finally listens."
This starts before any conversationMonths of supportive, validating attention. Always understanding. Never angry. Gradually repositioning parents and real friends as the ones who "just don't understand."
"They wouldn't understand us." Real-world friendships are systematically de-prioritized. One online relationship becomes the center of the child's emotional world.
A swear word. A mild image. An "adult" topic. Each line crossed is small. Each one lowers the bar for the next. By the time anything obvious happens, the child feels complicit — which enforces silence.
This is the mechanism for secrecySecrecy maintained through affection, shame, or threats. By the time a parent notices anything, the relationship may be a year old. The child believes they will be punished for what has already happened.
Average grooming duration before discovery: 3–12 monthsNone of these alone are proof of anything. Several appearing together over weeks is a reason for a calm, judgment-free conversation — not a confrontation.
What to do if you see theseDecoy Dawgs runs on community support. Every contribution goes directly toward documenting predator behavior, reporting it through proper channels, and giving parents the tools to protect their families. No overhead. No corporate structure. Just the work.
Decoy Dawgs is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. A receipt will be emailed to you for your records.
Direct support for the cause. One-time or recurring monthly.
501(c)(3) registered nonprofit. Recurring monthly support is the most impactful way to contribute — it lets us plan with predictable funding. Even $5/month from many people is more powerful than any one-time gift.
A detailed breakdown of how funds are allocated will be published here as Decoy Dawgs formalizes its financial reporting. Every contribution goes directly toward documentation, reporting, and educational work.
Pick your role. Specific, useful steps you can take this week — not vague advice.
You didn't fail. Predators are skilled at what they do and have been practicing far longer than your child has been online.
Don't delete anything — screenshots are evidence. Report to the NCMEC CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org. Get a professional involved who specializes in this specific area.
Crisis resourcesCrisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741. Free, 24/7, confidential.
Immediate danger: call 911.
takeitdown.ncmec.org — free help removing intimate images if you are under 18. You submit a hash; no person ever views the image.
You do not have to investigate. Recognize the pattern, document what you've observed, and hand off warmly.
Mandated reporting requirements apply to suspected online exploitation. Your school policy and the NCMEC CyberTipline are the two parallel paths.
A recurring monthly donation at any amount. Sustained support from many people is more powerful and more reliable than large one-time gifts from few.
Sharing this site with one parent costs nothing. Do it today.
Donate MonthlyYou don't need a perfect opening. You need an honest one.
What people ask before they get involved.
Decoy Dawgs is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Financial information is published transparently and donations are tax-deductible. All contributions are used as described on this site.
All contributions are used exactly as described on this site.
General inquiries: contact@decoydawgs.org
To report an incident: use report.cybertip.org — not this email address.