Chilling Fortnite warning over paedophiles grooming children on the game as National Crime Agency urges parents to be vigilant

PARENTS have been issued a chilling warning over the dangers of Fortnite after the National Crime Agency said children could be preyed on by paedophiles.

The law enforcement agency says voice and text chats between players over the internet can't be turned off - meaning kids are chatting to strangers online.

Dozens of Fortnite users have already reported adults making sexual remarks to kids - with one mum claiming her 12-year-old son was offered £50 to perform a sex act.

The NCA has now issued a harrowing warning to parents over the dangers of the game, which features up to 100 people battling to be the last person alive in a player vs player combat.

A spokesperson said: "Fortnite is immensely popular with children and teenagers across the country.

"It features voice and text chat which cannot be turned off, so it's important that parents and teachers understand that risks broader risks associated with the game and enable safe playing.”

Meanwhile,  a teacher in Bradford, who asked not to be named, said he was shocked when pupils aged 11 and 12 openly discussed the predators on the game.

He said: “We were talking about the game and they said it was ‘full of paedos.’ We talked about it and most said they had come across it.

“I don’t think parents are aware of the dangers.”

Fortnite has proved hugely popular with so many young people taking part to the craze that lessons are being disrupted.

While there is no exact figure on how many children play Fortnite, the game has so far pulled in an audience of over 3.4 million players.

As a result, the the Child Exploitation and Online Protection team, a command of the NCA, has issued lengthy guidance about the worldwide game.

Their advice includes parents playing with their child to make sure they are not speaking to anyone dangerous.

It said: “Play with them. It may seem daunting, but one of the best things that you can do is to engage with the gaming environment and begin to understand what makes Fortnite so attractive to young people, as well as giving yourself an idea of the reporting tools available within the game.”