Police warn against rising trend of pedophile hunting in Finland

The East Uusimaa Police reported last week that the international phenomenon of “pedophile hunting” is spreading across various social media platforms. Individuals searching for suspected pedophiles have gained increased visibility since spring, according to the police. One active participant is 20-year-old Benjami Tilus, who notes that interest in this activity has risen among youth aged 15 to 18 over the past few months. Tilus has engaged in this practice in the Helsinki metropolitan area for about two years.

Tilus and his friends create profiles on social media pretending to be 13- or 14-year-old girls. He clarifies that he never initiates conversations or proposes sexual acts; all advances come from the individuals being targeted. “The girls” state their age at the beginning of conversations, which sometimes leads to the dialogue ending immediately. Typically, however, discussions progress to a meeting within a week.

Tilus reports that, on average, it takes less than fifteen minutes for the first sexual message to arrive. Once a meeting is arranged, he arrives with friends to document the encounter. Some videos are shared on social media without revealing the identity of the targeted individual. If a person admits to previously meeting minors for sexual purposes, Tilus calls the police and encourages them to seek help.

The police maintain a firm stance against this phenomenon, asserting that some participants may use it to justify their criminal actions, including violence. Reports of related crimes, including attempted murder and severe breaches of privacy, have been filed in Finland. The police remind the public that investigating and prosecuting crimes is their responsibility, urging citizens to report any suspicious activity.