INTERNET perverts are using a hit computer game to groom youngsters and act out sick sex fantasies.
The makers of World of Warcraft, the world¡¯s most popular online game with 9MILLION users, have been forced to shut down parts of the role-playing site.
Players link to the internet and create their own characters to battle monsters and cast spells.
But one group using the game has been banned after bragging about ¡°playing¡± with six-year-olds.
Dad-of-two Billy Caldwell, 39, warned: ¡°This is a hunting ground for paedophiles.¡±
Billy, from Manchester, lets his two children play the game. But he admitted: ¡°It really worries me. There will be dubious individuals and it gives them a place to look for children.
¡°It would be frightening if it led to meetings with strangers.¡±
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre believes youngsters are at risk. Another game called RuneScape accounted for eight per cent of reports to them about online grooming by paedophiles.
A spokesman said: ¡°We need to be vigilant.¡±
Warcraft¡¯s US makers Blizzard shut down a group called Abhorrent Taboo ¡ª one of many ¡°Guilds¡± operating away from the main game.
Abhorrent Taboo has now re-emerged under the name Vile Anathema. One post on an internet forum appealed for new members.
It said: ¡°We¡¯ve got six and seven-year-old characters of both genders and no grown-ups or other children to play with them.
¡°No matter if you like to play a very young character or if you just like to play WITH them, Abhorrent Taboo wants you.¡±
Blizzard told an online forum: ¡°We appreciate those of you who brought this particular issue to our attention and we will continue to follow up this matter to ensure the safety of all parties concerned.¡±
