Edmonton city police are warning parents that child predators are using new video game systems to lure children when the kids are playing games online.

Patrycia Chalupczynska, a public information officer with the Edmonton police, said the systems such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox allow children to connect to the Internet and play games online with strangers. PlayStation 3 allows children to engage in text messaging, voice chat and downloading photos.

She said the predators pose as children and lurk in chat rooms where people ask strangers to be teammates. Once the predators begin playing, they gain the trust of children.

"There have been a few complaints in Edmonton. The kids are smart enough or intuitive enough to tell Mom and Dad, and Mom and Dad will contact the police," she said.

"What usually happens is the predator will get online and try to make contact and communicate and then try to get them into a more private setting, like possibly MSN messenger, where they can have a chat with them and from there things can progress."

Chalupczynska said it's important for parents to be aware of the risks posed by the gaming systems when connected to the internet and they should decide whether or not they should be unplugged.

Justin Sturik, manager of a video game store in downtown Edmonton, said he is not surprised that child predators have moved to online gaming.

"People play sports together in real life. They gain trust and friendships. The same thing can happen online," he said.

David Oilund, 16, a video game player who regularly plays online in Edmonton, said "creepers" have tried to chat with him while playing games.

"You just leave and go somewhere else and play a different game or whatever," he said.

Carl Mack, a father in Edmonton whose children have three terminals that are online, said he thinks parents need to keep the lines of communication open about online gaming. He said he regularly talks to his children about the possible risks of using the internet.

"I've had those conversations with them since they were just little kids to talk about the safety and what to be aware of," he said.

"If somebody comes on and starts asking them questions or is trying to engage them in conversation that is not about the game, (such as) what do they do and where do they live and about their bodies, then they should just turn it off or tell them to go away."

Alberta RCMP said they now seize video game systems from internet predators.

Some police forces in the U.S., where the problem was first noticed, have had reports of predators offering to exchange game points with children for pictures.

The RCMP said they want parents to be aware that these gaming systems are not much different from computers connected to the internet and they require the same vigilance when children are using them to play games online.