How A Mom Transforms To Catch Online Predators

Roo Powell, a 38-year-old mother of three and child advocate, says she’s made it her mission to bust online predators. She started SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse) in 2020 to help identify perpetrators online, and the organization gives the information they gather to law enforcement. Powell transforms herself into multiple teen identities and chats with perpetrators online to catch them in the act. “We do video calls. We do online chats. I have had thousands of conversations with perpetrators,” Powell says. “When I have these conversations with perpetrators, they’re awful. I still get taken aback by how aggressive, and intense, and demanding these perpetrators can be.” Powell and her team are featured in a six-part docuseries, “Undercover, Underage,” where they show how easy children are preyed upon. Watch clips in the video above, and see text message exchanges Powell has had with perpetrators. The FBI says, on any given day, there are 500,000 predators online looking for their next young prey. On Wednesday’s episode of Dr. Phil, "To Catch an Online Child Predator," hear from a father whose teen daughter has been missing for four years. Plus, hear from a mom who says she caught her young daughter chatting and sending explicit videos to older men. Check local listings to see where you can watch. TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Have a story in the news?