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The victims, police said, believed they were communicating with a girl through the email address jess_babe95@live.com. He had posted pictures of an attractive young woman as his profile picture and sent pictures of the same girl through email, police said.

After suspicious activity came to the attention of law enforcement in the U.S., the computer service was traced to Hamilton and the U.S.’s Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted Hamilton police. The local force’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit searched a home on the Hamilton Mountain and seized computer equipment, Sgt. Collings said.

After a forensic examination, police arrested the man at his work and charged him with two counts of extortion, possession of child pornography, two counts of luring, two counts of making child pornography and making child pornography available.

Investigators say there are likely other victims and ask anyone who has had contact with that email address to contact police.

“This is an important message for parents and for young people: It is really important to know exactly who you are talking to online. You may be tricked into doing things you wouldn’t normally do.

“Just because you are within the four walls of your bedroom, it is not going to protect you online if you are not careful,” said Sgt. Collings.

She encouraged parents to keep a child’s computer in a room where their activities can be monitored rather than allow them to be secluded in their bedroom with it.