Odisha Crime Branch Issues Advisory On MOMO Game Challenge

Cuttack: Aware that after the killer Blue Whale online game, the WhatsApp-based ‘MOMO Game’ challenge, a new virtual suicide game, is targetting the children, the Odisha Crime Branch has issued a list of advisory for the parents, teachers as well as the media.

Talking to the media on Saturday, Additional Director General (ADG), Crime Branch, Santosh Upadhyay, said that the MOMO Challenge is being circulated by some mischievous and criminal-minded people on social media. It instigates people, especially children to commit suicide as the final task.

“As some innocent people around the world have fallen prey to this malicious game, there is a need for the parents and teachers to be aware of this threat and save the children from it,” he said.

The ADG said that in MOMO Challenge, an unknown number having the profile of a girl’s distorted face with protruding eyes and a wide mouth appears with a WhatsApp invitation from an unknown number. The perpetrators of this horrific crime monitor the status and profiles of people on social networking websites to target people with suicidal tendencies.

“Since the killer game comes through an unknown WhatsApp number, any unknown link coming on your WhatsApp number should be deleted immediately and the unknown number invitation through WhatsApp may be avoided. Apart from this, if some unknown number asks you to play the game, simply block that number,” he pointed out.

According to the advisory, the signs and symptoms of the child playing the game should be meticulously observed.

If a child is playing the game, he/she will have the tendency to become withdrawn from friends and family with persistent low mood and unhappiness. The child looks worried with sudden outbursts of anger directed at him/her or others and stays away from day-to-day tasks with no interest in activities he/she used to enjoy. Besides, visible marks like deep cuts or wounds are found in any part of the body of the child.

Parents are advised to keenly observe the unusually secretive behaviour of children mostly related to their online activity. There is a sudden increase in the time they spend online, especially the social media. They seem to change screens on their device when approached, become withdrawn or angry, after using the internet or sending text messages. Besides, the device they use has more new phone numbers and email contacts. If anyone finds that the child knows about somebody playing the game, the parents, teachers, guardians of the child should be informed.

The parents should ask the child about how things are going on to know the reason of his /her worry and stress. The online and social media activity of the children should be monitored to ensure they are not engaging with this deadly game.

To keep the children out of the game, parents should install a good cyber/mobile parenting software on the device they use. They should take reports from teachers in the school at regular intervals and keep a constant watch if your child or child’s friends are involved in some violent act. If the child seems to be at risk, the parents should get professional help without delay.

The parents should also remind their children that they are always with them and will support them as they face life’s challenges.

In its advisory, the Crime Branch has advised the teachers to keep a close watch on the behaviour of all the students and inform the parents about the children who are suspected to be playing MOMO Challenge Games. They should conduct a random check of mobile phones of the students if the game is installed in their mobile phones and take necessary steps. They should also keep a constant watch if the students or their friends are involved in some violent act.

The Crime Branch has also requested the media not to publish any unverified news and connect any death/suicides to MOMO Challenge Game without proper verification.