Internet dating blamed for sex assaults

Internet dating could be responsible for an increase in the number of sexual assaults in Auckland over the past two months.

Kate Kean from the Sexual Abuse Help Foundation, says most of the attacks are carried out by people known to their victims or happen during first time dates after a period of internet dating.

She says women are led to believe the people they are talking to online are nice, because of conversations they have had in chatrooms and through emails. But she says the reality is that women do not really know their dates and are removing their usual defences and leaving themselves open to assault.

Ms Kean says while the internet is a great tool, people need to be aware there is a dark side to it.