Roblox
Roblox has been named in 16 documented digital harm incidents, including 16 involving minors. The most common harm domain is Child Safety, followed by Unknown.
Documented Incidents
1610-year-old child sexually groomed via explicit exchange on Roblox leading to legal action
A 10-year-old child was groomed by an adult through interactions on Roblox. The grooming led to a disturbing exchange involving explicit content. The incident came to light through a detailed report titled "The Wiretap." The case highlights the risks children face in online spaces like Roblox. Law enforcement was involved in the investigation. The consequences included legal action against the adult involved.
15-year-old girl blackmailed and threatened via Snapchat leading to FIR and accused’s arrest under IT Act provisions
A 15-year-old girl from Sion Koliwada was blackmailed and threatened by an individual she met on Snapchat, prompting her father to file an FIR with the Antop Hill police. The accused, identified through the Snapchat account, was arrested in Jamnagar, Gujarat, under sections of the Information Technology Act related to privacy violation, obscene material, and sexually explicit content. He was later released with a notice under the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Supreme Court guidelines, as the punishment was less than seven years. The girl had been using her father’s old phone for six months, during which she engaged in chats with the accused, who eventually threatened to expose their conversations unless she sent nude photos and videos. The incident is part of a growing trend of cyberbullying and online harassment affecting children, with platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and gaming sites increasingly linked to such cases. Experts warn of severe psychological consequences, including trauma, low self-esteem, and in extreme cases, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
New Jersey middle school teacher sexually assaults 17-year-old boy met on Roblox
A New Jersey middle school teacher met a 17-year-old boy on Roblox online before sexually assaulting him in the garage of the teacher’s home in Union City. Juan C. Sanchez Moya, 26, is accused of sexually assaulting the teen in late April and later "sexualizing" him in a bathroom at an Aldi supermarket in North Bergen in late May. Moya is also alleged to have exchanged explicit photos with the teen and attempted to arrange another meeting near a Crunch Fitness in North Bergen. The teen’s mother reported the incidents to Union City police on May 25. Moya is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and distributing obscene material to a minor. The alleged victim is not a student at West New York Middle School.
10-year-old California girl abducted after online interactions on Roblox and Discord leading to kidnapping charges against groomer
A 10-year-old girl from Kern County, California, was allegedly abducted by a 27-year-old man she met through the online gaming platform Roblox and the communication app Discord. The man, Matthew Naval, was arrested in Elk Grove and faces charges of kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. In a separate case, a 14-year-old girl from Sacramento County was found in Houston after being missing for nearly a year; she had met a 28-year-old man, Tarik Jammer, online, and he now faces charges related to sexual performance of a child. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office reports that predators are using platforms like Roblox and Discord to groom and exploit children, with over 15,000 tips received in 2025 alone by their Internet Crimes Against Children task force. A Northern California family is suing Roblox and Discord after their 14-year-old was allegedly coerced into sharing graphic images, with the accused reportedly having over 20 minor victims. Both companies have stated they are cooperating with law enforcement and have implemented safety measures, but critics argue more needs to be done to protect young users.
15-year-old Florida teen arrested for grooming children on Roblox to encourage self-exploitation
A local teenager in Marion County, Florida, was arrested for allegedly targeting children on the Roblox platform, encouraging them to engage in self-exploitation and exploitation of siblings. The suspect admitted to misrepresenting his age to appear more acceptable to young children. Authorities believe there may be additional, unidentified victims. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information from the public. Two weeks prior, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier subpoenaed Roblox for details on its child protection policies.
13-year-old UK girl sexually abused after grooming via Roblox online game
A 13-year-old girl in the UK was sexually abused by a man who had previously groomed her through the online game Roblox. The attacker, described as a "vile paedo," traveled to the UK to carry out the abuse. The incident occurred after the man built a relationship with the girl online. The case highlights the dangers of online grooming leading to real-world harm. Authorities are investigating the incident.
14-year-old girl groomed via sexualized messages on Roblox leading to two-year prison sentence for offender
A 14-year-old girl from Greater Manchester was groomed by 19-year-old Carlo Tritta, whom she met on the online gaming platform Roblox. Tritta, who was 18 at the time, moved the conversation to a private messaging platform and engaged in persistent, highly sexualized communication with the girl. He encouraged her to send him sexually explicit images and used "love-bombing" tactics, including sending gifts and constant messages, to manipulate her. Tritta was arrested in August 2025 in Fair Oak, Hampshire, and later admitted to making indecent images of a child, sexual communications with a child, and causing a child to watch a sexual act. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison and also admitted to intimidating a witness and criminal damage after visiting the girl’s home and sending her threatening cards. The case has highlighted concerns about online safety for children and the need for stronger protections on platforms like Roblox.
14-year-old Iowa girl sexually harassed online via Roblox by registered sex offender with prior child abuse conviction
A warrant was issued for Jacob Lee Le Clere, a 34-year-old Iowa man, for sexually harassing a 14-year-old Pine City girl online. Le Clere messaged the minor through the Roblox video game in September 2023, demanding inappropriate photos and videos and attempting to coerce her into performing sexual acts. He also asked to be introduced to her friends and expressed a preference for younger children, stating that they are "less likely to tell." Law enforcement obtained evidence linking Le Clere’s phone number and IP addresses to the messages exchanged with the victim. Le Clere, who is also known as Jacob Robertson, is a registered sex offender with a prior conviction for third-degree sexual abuse of a minor in Iowa. He is currently in Linn County Jail, and a warrant has been requested for his arrest.
14-year-old Greater Manchester girl sexually groomed via Roblox by 18-year-old leading to two-year prison sentence
A 14-year-old girl from Greater Manchester was groomed by an 18-year-old man, Carlo Tritta, whom she met on the online gaming platform Roblox in September 2024. Tritta, who later admitted to making indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child, and causing a child to view sexual images, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. The victim's mother discovered the grooming after finding concerning messages on her daughter's phone, leading to the revelation of explicit images and videos. Tritta also admitted to intimidating a witness and criminal damage, including breaking into the victim's home and damaging a doorbell camera. The victim's mother expressed concern about the dangers of online platforms like Roblox, where adults can groom children, and called for stronger safeguards. Roblox stated it has safety measures in place, including age checks and restrictions on user communication, to prevent such incidents.
9-year-old Long Island girl sexually groomed via TikTok and Roblox by 31-year-old Air Force airman leading to federal arrest
A 9-year-old girl from Long Island was enticed by David Ibarra, a 31-year-old active-duty Air Force airman stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, to send him sexually explicit videos in exchange for money, according to federal prosecutors. Ibarra, who pretended to be a 13-year-old boy named “Dave” on TikTok, communicated with the girl through Roblox and later via text messages, asking her to send explicit content. He paid the girl $191 in 17 Apple Pay transactions for the videos, as detailed in a criminal complaint. The girl’s father discovered the abuse in August 2023 and contacted Suffolk County police, who referred the case to the FBI. Federal investigators obtained a warrant to search Ibarra’s iCloud account in November 2023, where they found explicit photos of the victim. Ibarra was arrested on February 12, 2024, and admitted to the crime, claiming he believed the victim was 12 years old. He also admitted to soliciting images from other minors, including one in New Jersey. Ibarra was arraigned on charges of child exploitation, coercion, and enticement and was ordered held without bail.
Former Disney employee loses job and suffers data breach after downloading AI photo tool with malware, leading to unauthorized access of workplace Slack and personal accounts
A former Disney employee, Matthew Van Andel, was hacked after downloading an AI photo tool that contained malicious software, leading to a major data breach at Disney in July. Hackers gained access to Van Andel’s workplace Slack account and threatened to release his personal information unless he complied with their demands. After Van Andel alerted Disney to the breach, the hackers released his Social Security number, Disney login credentials, and private details about his children’s Roblox accounts. Van Andel lost his job following a forensic analysis of his work computer that allegedly found unauthorized content, which he denies. The breach was part of a larger attack on Disney’s Slack accounts by a group calling itself Nullbulge, which claimed the hack was in retaliation for Disney’s use of AI and other business practices. Van Andel continues to experience attempts to access his private accounts and sought compensation from Disney for lost wages and emotional distress.
13-year-old girl sexually groomed via Roblox platform leading to in-person encounter and four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for perpetrator
A 13-year-old girl was groomed online by Michael Shablinger, a 36-year-old man from Germany, through the video game platform Roblox. Shablinger met the victim in May 2023 when she was 12 and, in June 2024, met her in person at a park in Hethersett, Norfolk, where he spent five hours with her before she was found by her mother. During the encounter, Shablinger gave the girl a "secret" phone on which a picture of them kissing was later found, along with messages indicating he had asked her to "leave the country to be with him." Shablinger was arrested at Heathrow Airport on June 23, 2024, as he attempted to fly to Munich, and his phone was found to contain over 800 indecent images of children, including the victim. In court on January 9, Shablinger admitted to meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in sexual activity with a child, and possessing indecent images, and was sentenced to four and a half years in custody plus four years on licence. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register and banned from contacting the victim.
31-year-old man solicits explicit content from underage girls via Roblox leading to seven felony charges
An Upper Southampton man allegedly used the Roblox gaming app to solicit sexually explicit photos from underage girls. Alec J. Magill, 31, is facing seven felony charges, including unlawful contact with a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material. The FBI became involved after a 13-year-old Tennessee girl’s mother discovered explicit messages between her daughter and Magill, who met through Roblox. Authorities traced the IP address used in the messages back to Magill and conducted a text-takeover to gather evidence. Magill allegedly admitted to pretending to be a teenage boy and soliciting inappropriate images and conversations with minors. He was arraigned on January [date unspecified] and is currently free on unsecured bail.
17-year-old girl in Vernon Connecticut arrested for involvement in 764 online child exploitation network leading to swatting and bomb threats at local schools
A teenage girl in Vernon, Connecticut, was part of an online child exploitation network known as “764” and was involved in swatting and bomb threats at local schools in late 2023 and early 2024. The girl, then 17 years old, was arrested and charged with conspiracy. Police obtained photos from her phone showing disturbing content, including a naked Barbie doll with “764” written on its head. The network encourages self-mutilation, suicide, animal cruelty, and the sharing of violent or pornographic material to gain status. The case linked to international connections in Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom. In April 2024, two alleged leaders of the group, Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal, were arrested and charged with operating the international child exploitation enterprise.
10-year-old girl raped in woodland after being groomed via Roblox and Snapchat by 24-year-old man leading to six-year jail sentence
A 10-year-old girl was raped in woodland in Finedon, Northamptonshire, by Ryan Sutton, a 24-year-old man who groomed her through the Roblox and Snapchat platforms. Sutton travelled 100 miles from Worcester to meet the victim in April 2023. The girl had been messaging Sutton online for months, believing he was her boyfriend, and their contact included texting, phone calls, and FaceTime video chats. Sutton was later arrested after being found in the woodland with the girl and was jailed for six years at Northampton Crown Court. He was also placed on an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain on the sex offenders' register for life. The victim revealed the sexual assault to police three months after the incident.
13-year-old boy sexually groomed via Roblox and Discord by alleged paedophile leading to criminal charges and family relocation
A 13-year-old boy was groomed by an alleged paedophile, Sebastian Romero, on the Roblox gaming platform and Discord in 2023. The predator offered the child a $10 gift card for a shower video, a $25 gift card for a naked buttocks photo, and a $100 gift card for meeting in person for sex. After being banned from Discord, the predator moved to text and email, asking for the child’s address and threatening the family. The child’s parents discovered the messages and reported the case to the police. Sebastian Romero was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Aggravated Sexual Extortion. The child’s family sold their home and left the state due to safety concerns. Roblox and Discord are being sued for allegedly facilitating the abuse.